Maritta Kühnert, Stephan Schmidt
Changes in lymphocyte subsets during pregnancy and post-partum in cases of beginning eclampsia
Aims: The goal of the present retrospective study
was to examine the peripheral blood lymphocytes for
expression of phenotypic and activation markers concerning
the development of hypertension in pregnancy.
Methods: 16 women (aged 25–43 years; mean 35.1)
developing hypertension in the third trimester (week
25–34) have had blood samples taken in the first (< 14
weeks), the second (week 14–23), the third trimester
(week 24–35), in late pregnancy (week 36-termination
of pregnancy) and within 1 week post-partum, The control
group consisted of 16 age-matched pregnant healthy
women, who underwent the same regime. All blood
samples were taken in the morning, stored at room temperature
and stained within 6 hours and measured
within 24 hours. Kruskal-Wallis analysis of variance between
both groups was done with multiple comparison
according to Dunn.
Results: Comparing both groups, the total white cell
count was significantly increased in all pregnancies and
post-partum. In case of hypertension in pregnancy the
cell numbers of suppressor/cytotoxic (CD 8+) and
CD 56+-activated T cells showed a significant increase
in the first trimester (< 14 weeks) [p < 0.05] and decreased
thereafter to normal values. In the second trimester
(week 14–23) helper/inducer lymphocytes and
CD 56+1/CD 3+ lymphocytes decreased in case of
pre-ecclampsia and cytotoxic lymphocytes elevated
[p < 0.05]. In the third trimester (week 24–35) there
was no difference in both study groups and in late pregnancy
(week 36-termination) there were only small differences
without statistical significance. Within 1 week
postnatal the value of Il-2 receptor T lymphocytes decreased
in the group of pre-eclampsia in comparison to
normal pregnancies [p < 0.05].
Conclusions: Regarding the major changes in activated
T cells in both study groups no specific pattern of lymphocyte
subsets in case of pre-eclampsia could be found
in comparison to healthy pregnant women. Further investigations
should focus on functional activation and / or suppression of the cellular immune system. Perhaps
this could lead to a screening test for pre-eclampsia in
future, which is non-invasive for the patient and economic
for our social community because it might reduce
medical costs.
Journal of Perinatal Medicine, Walter de Gruyter
Print ISSN: 1619-3997
Volume: 28, 09/2000
Pages: 389 - 398
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