Immunological problems in the recurrent abortion syndrome

The recurrent abortion syndrome has been considered a serious obstetrical problem, since it was not possible to diagnose the causes in over 40% of the cases. Great progress has now been made with the knowledge of the immunological mechanisms involved in the maintenance of pregnancy. The disorders of such immunological mechanisms, both due to auto- or alloimmune problems, are demonstrated in about 40% of the cases of recurrent abortions. The Authors have studied a group of 56 patients with recurrent abortion syndrome in a complex diagnostic work-up involving: 1) The research of an autoimmune cause; 2) The research of the presence of the Blocking-factors by means of one-way mixed lymphocyte cultures; 3) The research of an altered antipaternal lymphocytotoxic activity or of an excessive HLA-sharing. According to the results of the investigations, several forms of therapeutic management have been used: 1) Steroids-aspirin-calcic heparin for Autoimmune cases. 2) Active immunotherapy for the cases due to the lack of blocking factors. 3) Calcic heparin for the altered antipaternal lymphocytotoxic activity. At the moment it is difficult to evaluate the results of pregnancy rate with this type of therapeutic management because of the too short follow-up.