OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of placental insufficiency on fetal lymphocyte subpopulations. STUDY DESIGN: Cross sectional study of 19 growth retarded fetuses undergoing cordocentesis at 24 to 37 weeks gestation. Flow cytometry was used to enumerate fetal blood lymphocyte subpopulations. RESULTS: The mean T (CD3+), B (CD19+), T-helper (CD4+), T-suppressor/cytotoxic (CD8+) cell counts and the CD4 to CD8 ratio in the growth retarded fetuses were significantly lower than respective normal mean for gestation (CD3+: z = 3.66, P < 0.001; CD19+: z = 2.18, P < 0.05; CD4+: z = 3.76, P < 0.001; CD8+: z = 2.26, P < 0.05; and CD4/CD8: z = 2.27, P < 0.05). There were significant associations between the decrease in the T lymphocyte subpopulations and the degree of fetal acidaemia. CONCLUSIONS: Growth retarded fetuses demonstrate immune abnormalities that could be attributed to intrauterine starvation.
OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of placental insufficiency on fetal lymphocyte subpopulations. STUDY DESIGN: Cross sectional study of 19 growth retarded fetuses undergoing cordocentesis at 24 to 37 weeks gestation. Flow cytometry was used to enumerate fetal blood lymphocyte subpopulations. RESULTS: The mean T (CD3+), B (CD19+), T-helper (CD4+), T-suppressor/cytotoxic (CD8+) cell counts and the CD4 to CD8 ratio in the growth retarded fetuses were significantly lower than respective normal mean for gestation (CD3+: z = 3.66, P < 0.001; CD19+: z = 2.18, P < 0.05; CD4+: z = 3.76, P < 0.001; CD8+: z = 2.26, P < 0.05; and CD4/CD8: z = 2.27, P < 0.05). There were significant associations between the decrease in the T lymphocyte subpopulations and the degree of fetal acidaemia. CONCLUSIONS:Growth retarded fetuses demonstrate immune abnormalities that could be attributed to intrauterine starvation.
Authors: A Oge; E Isganaitis; J Jimenez-Chillaron; C Reamer; R Faucette; K Barry; R Przybyla; M E Patti Journal: Diabetologia Date: 2007-03-17 Impact factor: 10.122