Peculiarities of Cellular and Humoral Immunity in Women Who Become Pregnant Through in Vitro Fertilization and at Risk of Preterm Delivery

Abstract

Introduction. In the structure of the causes of preterm delivery among patients who become pregnant through in vitro fertilization (IVF), immunological problems rank one of the leading places. Purpose: To identify alterations in cellular and humoral immunity in women with a history of infertility, who became pregnant through IVF, and who was at risk of preterm delivery. Materials and methods. The test group consisted of 37 women who became pregnant through IVF and manifested prognostic signs indicating a high risk of preterm delivery in the future. These women refused taking preventive therapy to reduce the risks of preterm birth. The control group (healthy pregnant women) included 20 women with physiological course of pregnancy. The indicators characterizing cellular and humoral components of immunity were investigated. Results and discussion. The women of the test group demonstrated changes in both cellular (decreased blood level of total T-lymphocytes, decreased level of T-helpers, fall in the of B-lymphocyte content) and humoral (decreased IgA content, decreased immunoregulatory index and tendency toward the lowering of immunoglobulin index, decreased concentration of circulating immune complexes) immunity. Conclusions: The changes in cellular and humoral immunity in pregnant women who undergoing IVF and were at risk of preterm delivery but refused preventive therapy have been manifested by decreased blood level of total T-lymphocytes, decreased level of T-helpers, considerable lowering in B-lymphocytes, and fall in Ig and IgG content). The results point out the progression of immunosuppression characteristic of the pregnancy course in general.