Human Reproduction, Vol. 12, No. 11, pp. 2388-2392, 1997
© 1997 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
Short-term therapy for recurrent abortion using intravenous immunoglobulins: results of a double-blind placebo-controlled Italian study
1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Section of Physiopathology of Human Reproduction, University of Palermo 90100 Palermo 2 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The San Paolo Biomedical Institute, University of Milan Medical School 20100 Milan 3 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Naples 80100 Naples 4 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ospedale Mauriziano 10100 Turin 5 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Ancona 60100 Ancona, Italy
Correspondence: 6To whom correspondence should be addressed
It is still unclear whether i.v. immunoglobulins (Ig) can facilitate the reproductive prognosis of women who have suffered recurrent pregnancy loss. We report the results of a multicentre placebo-controlled study on the effect of Ig administration on pregnancy outcome in 46 women who had suffered at least three recurrent miscarriages. All were screened to exclude chromosomal or Müllerian abnormalities, the presence of antinuclear antibodies, lupus anticoagulant (LA) or elevated titres of anticardiolipin antibodies which may have revealed an underlying autoimmune problem. To avoid a selection bias towards ongoing pregnancies, i.v. Ig or placebo were administered between weeks 5 and 7 of gestation for 2 consecutive days as soon as each woman knew she was pregnant and before embryonic heart activity could be detected. A further infusion was administered at week 8 when ultrasonography confirmed an ongoing embryonic development. In all, 68% of the women who received Ig went to term versus 79% of those who received a placebo (not significant), with no significant differences in the pregnancy course or the perinatal outcome. These results suggest either that women with recurrent miscarriages who have no recognized cause of pregnancy loss have a good reproductive prognosis without any treatment or that the emotional care associated with the administration of a placebo can indirectly facilitate the progression of pregnancy.
Key words: alloimmune abortion/i.v. immunoglobulins/recurrent abortion
Submitted on November 7, 1996; accepted on August 11, 1997.
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  M. Takeda, H. Yamada, K. Iwabuchi, S. Shimada, M. Naito, N. Sakuragi, H. Minakami, and K. Onoe Administration of high-dose intact immunoglobulin has an anti-resorption effect in a mouse model of reproductive failure Mol. Hum. Reprod., November 1, 2007; 13(11): 807 - 814. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
K.A. Pfeiffer, R. Fimmers, G. Engels, H. van der Ven, and K. van der Ven The HLA-G genotype is potentially associated with idiopathic recurrent spontaneous abortion Mol. Hum. Reprod., April 1, 2001; 7(4): 373 - 378. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 K. Ito, T. Tanaka, N. Tsutsumi, F. Obata, and N. Kashiwagi Possible mechanisms of immunotherapy for maintaining pregnancy in recurrent spontaneous aborters: analysis of anti-idiotypic antibodies directed against autologous T-cell receptors Hum. Reprod., March 1, 1999; 14(3): 650 - 655. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|