Korean J Fertil Steril.  2005 Jun;32(2):165-170.

Effectiveness of Intravenous Immunoglobulin Therapy in Women with Recurrent Spontaneous Abortions and Elevated Pre-conceptional Peripheral Blood CD56+ Natural Killer Cell Percentage

• Cha SH
• Park CW
• Kim HS
• Cho DH
• Kim JY
• Kang IS
• Koong MK
• Yang KM

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The aim of present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of low-dose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) therapy in women with recurrent spontaneous abortions (RSA) and elevated pre-conceptional peripheral blood CD56+Natural Killer (NK) cell percentage. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case control study.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Thirty three women with RSA and elevated pre-conceptional peripheral blood CD56+NK cell percentage who had received low-dose IVIg therapy (400 mg/kg per day, every 4 week, until 20 gestational weeks) were included in this study. Controls were nine women with RSA and elevated pre-conceptional peripheral blood CD56+ Natural Killer (NK) cell percentage who had not received IVIg therapy were included in this study. Medical records of study and control groups were retrospectively analyzed and we compared the successful pregnancy outcomes between two groups. Successful pregnancy outcome was defined as pregnancy ongoing beyond 25 gestational weeks.
RESULTS
Age, number of previous abortions, pre-conceptional CD56+NK cell percentage and type of RSA were not statistically different between two groups. Otherwise, twenty-five women who received IVIg therapy (25/33, 75.8%) but, only three women who had not received (3/9, 33.3%) had a successful pregnancy outcome and the rate difference between two groups was statistically significant.
CONCLUSION
Based on our study, low-dose IVIg therapy have a effective role in treatment of RSA patients with elevated pre-conceptional peripheral blood CD56+ Natural Killer (NK) cell percentage, but more larger scaled prospective study is needed for available of conclusive evidence.

Keyword

Natural Killer cells; Intravenous immunoglobulin; Recurrent spontaneous abortion

MeSH Terms

Abortion, Induced
Abortion, Spontaneous*
Case-Control Studies
Female
Humans
Immunization, Passive*
Immunoglobulins*
Immunoglobulins, Intravenous
Killer Cells, Natural*
Medical Records
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Outcome
Retrospective Studies
Immunoglobulins
Immunoglobulins, Intravenous