Human Reproduction, Vol. 18, No. 7, 1529-1530,
July 2003
© 2003 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
Abnormal IL-2 receptor levels in non-pregnant women with a history of recurrent miscarriage
1 University Departments of Medicine, Glasgow Royal Infirmary and 2 Department of Obstetrics, St James Hospital, Leeds, UK
3 To whom correspondence should be addressed at: Department of Medicine, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, 10 Alexandra Parade, Glasgow G31 2ER, UK. e-mail: gcl025{at}clinmed.gla.ac.uk
BACKGROUND: Immunological abnormalities have been found in pregnant women with a history of recurrent miscarriage. This study compared interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) levels in non-pregnant women with a history of recurrent miscarriage with those found in serum from a non-pregnant group with no such history. METHODS: Group 1 comprised 49 non-pregnant women with a history of recurrent miscarriage (at least three consecutive miscarriages). Group 2 comprised 22 non-pregnant women with no history of miscarriage. Serum IL-2R levels were measured in all patients. RESULTS: The results obtained showed that although all women were not pregnant at the time of sampling, IL-2R levels were significantly higher in women in Group 1 compared with those in Group 2 (1589 ± 1289 versus 1082 ± 823 pg/ml; P < 0.05). Follow-up data were available for 21 women from Group 1. The next pregnancy ended successfully for 14 of these women, while seven miscarried again. The IL-2R levels obtained pre-pregnancy were not significantly different between the two groups (1480 ± 910 versus 1356 ± 716 pg/ml). CONCLUSION: This study has shown that non-pregnant women with a history of recurrent miscarriage have raised IL-2R levels. These increased pre-pregnancy IL-2R levels did not necessarily predict miscarriage for the next pregnancy.
Key words: immune function/interleukin-2 receptor/recurrent miscarriage