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Are CD57+ Natural Killer cells really important in early pregnancy failure?

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Abstract

Objective

The aim of this study was to compare the CD57+ Natural Killer (NK) cell counts in normal pregnancies and in cases grouped according to different types of early pregnancy failure.

Materials and methods

A prospective case control study which was set in Baskent University Faculty of Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology Department. A total of 119 women whose pregnancies ended in the first trimester were divided into elective pregnancy termination, incomplete miscarriage, intrauterine demise, ectopic pregnancy and recurrent pregnancy loss groups. CD57+ NK cells were stained and counted in the histologic preparations of the decidua in all of these groups.

Results

CD57+ NK cell counts were 2.14 ± 1.42 in control, 2.24 ± 1.92 in incomplete miscarriage, 1.82 ± 1.34 in intrauterine demise, 2.54 ± 1.80 in ectopic pregnancy and 3.42 ± 2.15 in recurrent pregnancy failure group. There were no statistically significant differences between the control group and the other four groups with respect to the CD57+ NK cell counts.

Conclusion

This study suggests that CD57+ NK cell count is not associated with early pregnancy failure.

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Conflicts of interest

No author of the current work has a personal or financial relationship that could inappropriately influence (bias) his or her actions or the writing of this manuscript, and no financial or other potential conflicts of interest exist (includes involvement with any organization with a direct financial, intellectual, or other interest in the subject of the manuscript) regarding the manuscript. There are no grants or sources of financial support related to the topic or topics of the manuscript to be reported.

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Correspondence to Emel Ebru Ozcimen.

Additional information

This study was supported by Baskent University Grant KA06/238 after Institutional Review Board Approval.

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Ozcimen, E.E., Kiyici, H., Uckuyu, A. et al. Are CD57+ Natural Killer cells really important in early pregnancy failure?. Arch Gynecol Obstet 279, 493–497 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-008-0736-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-008-0736-y

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