HLA typing in couples with repetitive abortion

Area of Science:

• Immunogenetics
• Reproductive immunology
• Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) system

Background:

• Reduced reproductive capacity in inbred strains contrasts with increased capacity linked to immune responses to placental antigens.
• Recurrent spontaneous abortions (RSA) in humans are potentially associated with specific human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles, such as HLA-BW35.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between human leukocyte antigen (HLA) compatibility and recurrent spontaneous abortions (RSA) of unknown etiology.
• To determine the frequency of HLA-BW35 in women with a history of RSA.

Main Methods:

• Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) typing was performed on 20 couples with RSA and 20 fertile control couples.
• Complement-dependent lympholysis tests were used to detect anti-paternal HLA antibodies in the sera of wives from infertile couples.

Main Results:

• A significant HLA compatibility was observed between husbands and wives in couples with a history of RSA (p < 0.01 for HLA-A).
• The frequency of the HLA-BW35 allele was higher in women with RSA compared to control women and the general Italian population.
• No anti-paternal HLA antibodies were detected in the sera of wives from infertile couples.

Conclusions:

• Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) compatibility, particularly at the HLA-A locus, may play a role in recurrent spontaneous abortions of unknown etiology.
• The increased frequency of HLA-BW35 in women with RSA warrants further investigation into its specific role in reproductive failure.