Evaluation of Immunologic Parameters in Preclamptic Women

Preclampsia is a pregnancy-specific condition characterized by hypertention, proteinuria and generalized edema. The condition usually occurs in the third trimester and word wide is one of the most common causes of maternal mortality and morbidity. No study concerning the immunological etiology and pathogenesis of preclampsia has been done in Iran. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of some immunological factors involved in the pathogenesis of preclampsia.

This research was a clinical trial study. We measured C3, C4, IgG, IgA and IgM levels in 20 women with preclampsia, 20 normal pregnant women and 20 non-pregnant women matched for age, BMI, parity and gestational age. Seven patients had developed severe and thirteen mild preclampsia. After written informed consent was obtained, blood samples of subject group. Collected serum collected was analyzed for immunological parameters by the single radial immunodiffusion (SRID) method of Mancini.

C4 level was significantly decreased in women with severe preclampsia than in women with mild preclampsia and normal pregnancies, whereas C3 level did not differ between groups. IgG concentration was significantly higher in non-pregnant women than in women with preclampsia and normal pregnancies. There was a significant decrease in IgA concentration in normal pregnant women compared with non-pregnant women. There was a not significant difference between the IgM concentrations of both groups.

Our data show several changes in immunological factors in preclampsia which may contribute to the pathogenesis of the disorder in Iranian women.