Evidence of a T(H) 1 type response associated with recurrent miscarriage.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether the T(H) 1 cytokine interferon (IFN)-gamma is associated with miscarriage whereas the T(H) 2 cytokine interleukin (IL)-10 is associated with successful pregnancy.

DESIGN

Controlled clinical study.

SETTING

Healthy volunteers in an academic setting.

PATIENT(S): Group 1 comprised 10 nonpregnant women; group 2, 10 first-trimester primigravid women; group 3, 10 first-trimester primigravid women suffering spontaneous abortion; and group 4, 10 first-trimester pregnant women with a history of miscarriage. All women were pregnant at the time of sampling, but 5 miscarried later in the first trimester.

INTERVENTION(S): None of the patients received any medication.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Serum levels of IL-10 and IFN-gamma.

RESULT(S): Levels of IL-10 were significantly raised in normal pregnancy. Levels of IFN-gamma were raised in the recurrent-miscarriage group as compared with normal pregnancy. When patients in group 4 were divided into those whose pregnancies went to term and those who miscarried, we found that successful pregnancy was associated with a statistically significant increase in IL-10, whereas miscarriage was associated with significantly increased levels of IFN-gamma.

CONCLUSION(S): These results support the view that miscarriage is associated with a T(H) 1 type response.