Gestosis and fetal rejection: immunopathogenetic role of HLA-DR

In this study we faced the problem of etiopathogenesis of EPH Gestosis, focusing our attention on the role of immunitary aspects in determining its onset. We typed HLA-DR in 20 couples with gestosic patient and in 20 control couples. Blood samples were taken into heparin-treated test tubes, from all the couples and HLA typed through standard lymphotoxicity technique in accordance with Terasaky (1). Our results in couples with a gestosic patient, showed homozygosis in 65% of patients and in 70% of partners; in 35% of cases homozygosis was present in both partners, and these were the most severe cases. It is also worth mentioning that in all the couples with gestosic patient, at least one of the partners resulted homozygotic. Homozygosis would therefore represent a predisposing factor in the etiopathogenesis of gestosis, and pre-conception HLA-DR typing of the couple could prove to be a valid alarm signal for gestosis risk.