Relation between Uterine Natural Killer Cells and Unexplained Recurrent Miscarriage.

ABSTRACT

Objective: To evaluate the relation between uK (uterine Killer) cells and unexplained repeated miscarriage (RM). Patients and Methods: Eighty (80) women with unexplained repeated miscarriage and missed miscarriage of current pregnancy were studied. Fetal viability and gestational age of current pregnancy were confirmed by ultrasound, followed by suction evacuation to collect abortus specimens and uterine wall curettage to collect decidua specimens. Abortus specimens were collected for long-term monolayer cell culture and subsequent chromosome analysis using conventional G-banding technique. Decidua specimens were subjected to IHC (Immunohistochemical) staining using monoclonal antibodies specific to CD56+ and CD16+ expressed by uK cells. Results: CD56+ CD16+ uK cells was found in 85% (68/80) of studied decidua specimens of women with unexplained repeated miscarriage, 88.5% (54/61) had normal abortus karyotyping and 73.7% (14/19) had abnormal abortus karyotyping. 73.75% (59/80) of studied women with past history of early miscarriage had CD56+ CD16+ uK cells in their decidua specimens and 66.25% (53/80) of studied women with past history of late miscarriage had CD56+ CD16+ uK cells in their decidua specimens, the association between early and late miscarriage and CD56+ CD16+ uK cells in deciduas specimen was significant. Conclusion: CD56+ CD16+ uK cells were predominant in decidua specimens of studied women with repeated miscarriage. Significant association was found between presence of CD56+ CD16+ uK cells in studied decidua specimens and unexplained repeated miscarriage.