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Intravenous Immunoglobulin Treatment in Women with Recurrent Abortions: Increased Cytokine Levels and Reduced Th1/ Th2 Lymphocyte Ratio in Peripheral Blood
Author(s) -
Yamada Hideto,
Morikawa Mamoru,
Furuta Itsuko,
Kato Emi H.,
Shimada Shigeki,
Iwabuchi Kazuya,
Minakami Hisanori
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
american journal of reproductive immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.071
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1600-0897
pISSN - 1046-7408
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0897.2003.01184.x
Subject(s) - medicine , cytokine , lymphocyte , antibody , peripheral blood lymphocyte , immunology , peripheral , flow cytometry , endocrinology
PROBLEM: The aim of this study was to investigate changes in peripheral blood Th1/Th2 cytokine levels and lymphocyte ratios after massive intravenous immunoglobulin (MIVIg) treatment for women with recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) of unexplained etiology. METHOD OF STUDY: Serum Th1 (IFN‐γ, TNF‐α) and Th2 cytokine (IL‐4, IL‐10) levels were assessed by ELISA methods ( n = 9) and peripheral blood Th1/Th2 lymphocyte ratios ( n = 4) by flow cytometry before and after MIVIg treatments in women with four or more consecutive RSA. RESULTS: Pre‐treatment serum IFN‐γ (0.06 ± 0.09 pg/mL, mean ± SD), TNF‐α (0.21 ± 0.45 pg/mL), IL‐4 (0.70 ± 1.16 pg/mL), and IL‐10 (1.12 ± 1.67 pg/mL) increased to 0.17 ± 0.16 pg/mL, 0.77 ± 0.28 pg/mL, 1.82 ± 0.89 pg/mL, and 3.44 ± 0.48 pg/mL, respectively, after MIVIg treatments ( P < 0.05). CD4‐positive IFN‐γ/IL‐4 lymphocyte ratios (17.3 ± 9.1) were reduced to 11.5 ± 7.1 after treatment ( P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Massive intravenous immunoglobulin treatments increased peripheral blood cytokine levels and decreased Th1/Th2 lymphocyte ratios; thus, MIVIg treatments modify the peripheral Th1/Th2 balance.