Clinical relevance of cytotoxic antibodies occurring in pregnancy.

Cytotoxic antibodies were studied in 809 pregnant women's sera. Two kinds of antibody population: HLA-A, B, C and Ia-like, were detected and a correlation was established between their presence and some clinical conditions, such as preterm delivery, spontaneous abortion, pre-eclampsia, neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia and congenital anomalies. An opposite effect of HLA-A, B, C and Ia-like antibodies was observed as far as the first three parameters are concerned. On the basis of these investigations a protective role of Ia-like antibodies for the newborn can be implied.