[In vitro test for the radioimmunological demonstration of the adsorption of maternal antibodies to placental basal membrane collagen].

Polystyrene tubes were activated by adsorption of placental basement collagen (Type IV collagen). Binding of maternal immunoglobulin from serum samples to immobilized collagen was detected with 125I-labeled Antihuman IgG. An almost complete loss of binding resulted by adding solubilized Type IV collagen to the serum or pretreating the coated tubes with highly purified collagenase as well as using uncoated tubes. A high adsorption rate of IgG to Type IV collagen (2029 +/- 388 cpm) was detected in patients with moderate to severe gestosis (n = 16) (index greater than or equal to 4). 925 +/- 192 cpm were measured in mild gestosis (n = 13). Only 315 +/- 24 cpm could be detected in samples of a healthy control group (n = 17). A correlation was found between the index of gestosis and adsorption of maternal IgG to Type IV collagen (r = 0,823). It is concluded that the concentration and adsorption of immunoglobulins binding to basement membrane collagen is related to the severity of the disease and may play an important role in the development of symptoms of gestosis.