[Immunogenetic study in Mexican couples with recurrent spontaneous abortions]

Abstract

Aim: To study the HLA markers in Mexican couples who have suffered three or more spontaneous abortions.

Design: The study included 24 couples with recurrent abortions and 32 with normal fertility.

Method: HLA class I (A, B, C) and class II (DR, DQ) typing was done with a standard microlymphocytoxity test. The intergroup differences were evaluated by chi-square and the Fisher exact test.

Results: The frequency of the MHC markers in the males and females of couples with abortions were not significantly different from those in fertile couples. However, the abortion couples shared class I antigens more often than expected from random mating as compared to fertile couples, specially in the HLA-B locus. We also found a significantly decreased frequency of the HLA-B7 antigen in males belonging to the abortion group.

Conclusion: These results suggest that HLA-B antigens may be markers for genes related to pregnancy outcome in Mexicans.