The response of lymphocytes to phytohaemagglutinin in women with pre-eclampsia.

The response of maternal lymphocytes to phytohaemagglutinin was determined during and after pregnancy in patients with severe pre-eclampsia and in controls. The patients with pre-eclampsia showed a greater degree of immunosuppression during pregnancy than the normotensive controls. This was apparent in the presence and absence of maternal serum. In pre-eclampsia there may be an abnormality affecting the T cell subpopulation of lymphocytes and also a decreased immunosuppressive effect of maternal serum.