H Shu-Xin1, Z Zhen-Qun. 1. Research Laboratory of Reproductive Immunology, Shanxi Medical College, Taiyuan, People's Republic of China.
Abstract
PROBLEM: Seventy-seven sera samples obtained from 51 patients (6-20 wk gestation) with unexplained spontaneous abortions including 20 threatened abortions (TA), 13 inevitable abortions (IA), and 18 intrauterine fetal growth retardation (IFGR), as well as 9 sera from 9 patients (6-20 wk gestation) with hydatidiform mole (HM), were detected for early pregnancy factor (EPF) by rosette inhibition assay. Rosette inhibition titer (RIT) was used to express EPF activity. RESULTS: The RIT value of EPF was 5.95 +/- 0.69 (mean +/- SD) in the TA group; 4.06 +/- 0.93 in the IA group; 3.50 +/- 0.71 in the IFGR group, and 4.00 +/- 0.71 in the HM group. Except for the TA group, in which the mean RIT was in normal pregnancy range, the RIT in the other three groups was significantly lower (P < 0.01) then that of the normal pregnancy group (5.81 +/- 0.68). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that measurement of EPF is a sensitive method for judging survival of the embryo. It may be used to predict the prognosis of the patient with unexplained spontaneous abortion.
PROBLEM: Seventy-seven sera samples obtained from 51 patients (6-20 wk gestation) with unexplained spontaneous abortions including 20 threatened abortions (TA), 13 inevitable abortions (IA), and 18 intrauterine fetal growth retardation (IFGR), as well as 9 sera from 9 patients (6-20 wk gestation) with hydatidiform mole (HM), were detected for early pregnancy factor (EPF) by rosette inhibition assay. Rosette inhibition titer (RIT) was used to express EPF activity. RESULTS: The RIT value of EPF was 5.95 +/- 0.69 (mean +/- SD) in the TA group; 4.06 +/- 0.93 in the IA group; 3.50 +/- 0.71 in the IFGR group, and 4.00 +/- 0.71 in the HM group. Except for the TA group, in which the mean RIT was in normal pregnancy range, the RIT in the other three groups was significantly lower (P < 0.01) then that of the normal pregnancy group (5.81 +/- 0.68). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that measurement of EPF is a sensitive method for judging survival of the embryo. It may be used to predict the prognosis of the patient with unexplained spontaneous abortion.