The role of circulating immune-complex in pregnancy

The circulating immune complexes (CIC) in pregnancy sera have been thought to be involved in immunosuppression and to be one cause of pre-eclampsia. We detected CIC in human pregnancy sera using Raji cell test. A significant positive correlation was observed between the titers of immune-complexes and the immunosuppression. Although there was no correlation between the titers of CIC and clinical symptoms of pre-eclampsia evaluated at 29 to 31 week, a strong correlation was observed between the titers of CIC at 29 to 31 week and clinical symptoms of pre-eclampsia evaluated just before delivery. These results suggest that CIC in pregnancy sera functions immunosuppressively and also causes pre-eclampsia. It is useful to measure CIC levels for predisposing pre-eclampsia.