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Simone Abitzsch, Holger Stepan, Ulrich Sack, Renaldo Faber
Detection of cervical immunoglobulin A in normal pregnancy
The aim of our study was to evaluate a feasible method to quantify the immunoglobulin A concentration in the cervical mucus of women with a normal singleton pregnancy.
In 60 immunologic healthy pregnant women cervical mucus samples were taken at a random time in pregnancy using an absorbing cylindrical cotton-swab stick. In this cervical mucus immunoglobulin A concentration was measured by radial immunodiffusion. A vaginal bacterial swab was taken from each woman. Concentration of immunoglobulins in maternal serum was estimated.
There was no statistically significant difference of cervical immunoglobulin A concentration between the investigated groups (p = 0.952): 18–24 gestational weeks (gw): 52.8 (6.6–258.4) mg/l; 25–29 gw: 89.3 (4.8–193.8) mg/l; 30–34 gw: 55 (1.4–326) mg/l; 35–40 gw: 59.2 (4–400.9) mg/l. Women with a normal vaginal flora showed a significantly higher cervical immunoglobulin A concentration than those with a pathological colonization: 92.2 (6.6–400.9) mg/l vs. 42.5 (1.4–326) mg/l (p < 0.05). The serum levels of immunoglobulins A, A1, A2, M and G do not correlate to cervical immunoglobulin A levels nor to gestational age.
In normal pregnancy, cervical immunoglobulin A concentration does not change with advancing gestational age, but a pathological vaginal colonization seems to be associated with decreased immunoglobulin A levels.
Journal of Perinatal Medicine, Walter de Gruyter
Print ISSN: 1619-3997
Volume: 29, 01/2001
Pages: 36 - 41