T- and B-cell distribution in pregnancy

Abstract

The percentage of thymus-derived [T] lymphocytes associated with cellular immune responses and bone marrow-derived [B], antibody-producing cells in maternal blood throughout normal gestation was established. The data are in conflict with a recent proposal that reversal of the T:B cell ratio associated with the serum human chorionic gonadotrophin peak of early pregnancy assists in fetoplacental allograft acceptance. Moreover, variability on lymphocyte dynamics in 4 women followed up serially throughout pregnancy, as well as T- and B-cell determinations in 15 patients whose pregnancy complications are potentially related to maternal-fetal immunologic aberrations, suggests that more sensitive immumologic methods of monitoring the host immune response are necessary to be clinically useful in obstetrics.