Increased phagocytic activity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes during pregnancy.

Many immunological parameters are depressed during pregnancy. For this reason, an evaluation was made of the phagocytic activity, representing non-specific immunity, of polymorphonuclear leukocytes from pregnant women. The cells were isolated from heparinized venous human blood of pregnant women of 10 or more weeks' gestation and non-pregnant women (controls), 20-30 years old. The results indicate that the phagocytosis of inert particles (latex beads) does not significantly change in pregnancy. However, the attachment, ingestion and digestion of Candida albicans significantly increased in pregnancy, with the greatest difference from controls being in the second trimester. These findings suggest that the phagocytic activity in pregnant women is enhanced and that this increased non-specific immunity may compensate in part for weakened specific immunity of the maternal host.