[Serologic diagnosis and therapeutic possibilities in habitual abortion]

Immunological laboratory investigations and success in the therapy of habitual abortion have led to a new view of the disease. Though we are currently unable to fully understand the underlying mechanisms, it seems to be generally accepted that insufficient production of HLA antibodies at an early stage of gestation is pathogenetically involved. Employing sensitive methods (IPI = immune phagocytosis inhibition assay) antibodies directed against fetal (paternal) histocompatibility antigens can be detected in the sera of healthy women already in the fifth week of gestation. The lack of such antibodies in the sera of aborting women is therefore an important diagnostic criterion. Strikingly good histocompatibility between the partners in couples with habitual abortion is occasionally encountered, providing an explanation for the lack of immune response in these cases. Patients with a classical clinical picture can be treated by immunization with the partner's leucocytes. The rate of success for subsequent pregnancies is about 80%. A positive effect was also observed in patients with primary infertility (about 20%).