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Updated: Jul 20, 2025

Isolation of Leukocytes from the Murine Tissues at the Maternal-Fetal Interface
Published on: May 21, 2015
Assessment of fetal thymus size in pregnant women with rheumatic diseases: A case-control study
Muradiye Yildirim1, Deniz Oluklu1, Dilek Menekse Beser1
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Perinatology, Turkish Ministry of Health Ankara City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
Purpose:
To investigate the fetal thymic-thoracic ratio (TT-ratio) in pregnancies diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS).
Methods:
Thirty-two pregnant women with rheumatic disease and 96 low-risk pregnant women between 20 and 37 weeks were included in the study. Three control patients were randomly selected for each study patient. TT-ratio was calculated by measuring the anterior-posterior diameter of the thymus and the intrathoracic mediastinal diameter. Data were compared between the study group, including RA and AS, and the control group.
Results:
Thirty-two pregnant women with arthritis, 19 diagnosed with RA and 13 with AS, were evaluated. The mean value of the study group TT-ratio was 0.33; control group, 0.36; a statistically significant difference was found (p < 0.001). Perinatal outcomes were not different when compared with control patients. There was a negative correlation between disease duration, maternal C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and TT-ratio.
Conclusion:
This is the first study to prospectively evaluate the fetal TT-ratio in patients with RA and AS. Systemic inflammation appears to affect fetal thymus size. Appropriate management of maternal rheumatic diseases is essential for developing the thymus, a vital immune system component.
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