[Immunologic aspects of the fetal growth retardation syndrome]

Serial measurements of allo- and autoimmune lymphocytotoxic antibodies (LCT-AB), circulating immune complexes (CIC) and heterophilic hemolysins were carried out over pregnancy weeks 24-40 in 63 pregnant women with small-for-date fetuses, 63 ones with other pregnancy complications, and in 15 ones with normal pregnancy. The mean allo- and auto-LCT-AB levels remained unchanged over the course of pregnancy and were virtually the same in all the examinees. CIC and heterophilic hemolysin levels were found growing in women with small-for-date fetuses starting from pregnancy week 28, as against the two reference groups. A direct relationship between abnormally high heterophilic hemolysin levels and blood rheology disorders could be traced. The incidence of unfavorable perinatal outcomes was increasing if heterophilic hemolysin levels surpassed 1.1 U optic density and the placenta was thin. These results permit considering the small-for-date fetus syndrome as a manifestation of immunity conflict in pregnancy.