Clinical Efficacy of Intravenous Immunoglobulin for the Prevention of Recurrent Spontaneous Abortion

Song, Ji Hong; Paik, Eun Chan; Jun, Jong Young; Kang, Inn Soo; Noh, Keun Woong; Cho, Dong Hee

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of intravenous immunoglobulin treatment for recurrent spontaneous abortion. Immunologic causes in either alloimmune or autoimmune type have been suggested for more than 80% of these patients. Various immunotherapy including paternal leukocyte transfusion has been used, but there is controversy on its efficacy and side-effects. The proposed immunomodulatory mechanism of intravenous immunoglobulin includes passive transfer of blocking or anti-idiotype antibody, blockade of Fc receptors, enhancement of supressor T-cell function, down regulation of B cell function. In this study, we used intravenous immunoglobulin for the prevention of spontaneous abortion. Five patients with a history of two or more spontaneous abortions were enrolled in this study. Other etiologic factors such as anatomical, chromosomal, hormonal factors were excluded. Three of them were positive for anti-cardiolipin antibody (ACA). When the pregnancy was diagnosed at about five weeks of gestation, 30 g intravenous immunoglobulin was administered and continued up to 28 weeks with three weeks. Ongoing pregnancy beyond 20 weeks was considered successful. Four among five patients (80%) was successful in maintaining pregnancy now ongoing 20, 31, 33, 39 weeks. One patient with ACA positive had abartion due to anembryonic pregnancy. No adverse reaction was observed during the treatment. From these preliminary data, it is suggested that intravenous immunoglobulin treatment may be effective in maintaining pregnancy in patients with unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion, Further studies are needed to clarify the its immunomodulatory mechanism and establish a more simplified protocol limiting the use at certain critical period of time.