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Maternal peripheral T helper 1-type and T helper 2-type immunity in women during the first trimester of twin pregnancy

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Abstract

Introduction

This study investigated the T helper Th1:Th2 balance in twin pregnancies compared with singleton pregnancies during the first trimester.

Methods

Blood samples were taken from 24 women with a singleton pregnancy and 14 women with twin pregnancy at 8–9 weeks’ gestation to examine the ratios of Th1:Th2 and serum human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and progesterone levels.

Results

The average ratio of Th1:Th2 in the twin pregnancies was significantly lower than that in singleton pregnancies (7.3±2.3 vs. 10.5±2.2, p<0.05). There were negative correlations between the Th1:Th2 ratio and serum hCG levels (mIU/ml) (Th1:Th2 ratio = 14.5−4.52×10−5×hCG, r2=0.41, p<0.05) and between the Th1:Th2 ratio and serum progesterone levels (ng/dl; Th1:Th2 ratio = 23.0−0.63 × progesterone, r2=0.36, p<0.05).

Conclusion

Our findings show marked predominance of Th2 type cytokines occurring in twin pregnancies is related to the increase in trophoblasts during the first trimester.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tokyo Rinkai Hospital, 1–4-2 Rinkai-cho, 134–0086, Edogawa-ku, Tokyo, Japan

    Shunji Suzuki & Sayaka Okudaira

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  1. Shunji Suzuki
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  2. Sayaka Okudaira
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Correspondence to Shunji Suzuki.

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Suzuki, S., Okudaira, S. Maternal peripheral T helper 1-type and T helper 2-type immunity in women during the first trimester of twin pregnancy. Arch Gynecol Obstet 270, 260–262 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-003-0549-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-003-0549-y

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