HLA-G in Preeclampsia: a Pilot Study to Propose a Tolerogenic Treatment

Abstract

Background: The serum level of soluble Human Leukocyte Antigen-antigen-D Related (HLA)-(DR) (sHLA-DR) may appear as a useful parameter to monitor maternal immune response during pregnancy. Objective: The aim was to compare HLA-G serum levels in patients with or without preeclampsia. Methods: Pregnant women seen at the “Mónica Pretelini Sáenz” Maternal-Perinatal Hospital (HMPMPS) were recruited at their first visit. Two groups were conformed: a) women with healthy pregnancies, and b) women with preeclampsia. The patients’ sociodemographic and laboratory data were introduced into the SPSS software program. HLA-G quantification was performed in peripheral blood samples through the Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) method. Results: The total number of women seen was 16 (mean age, 24 ± 8 years), eight healthy women (mean age, 22 ± 3 years) and eight women with preeclampsia (mean age, 27 ± 7 years). Women with preeclampsia were older, heavier, had higher levels of Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP), Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP), Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP), and referred less sexual intercourse per week than healthy pregnant women. There was no difference in HLA-G levels. Conclusion: The sexual intercourse frequency is a major factor to develop preeclampsia and the serum HLA-G levels measured previous to the child delivery or cesarean are not different between women with or without preeclampsia.

Keywords

• hla-g
• preeclampsia
• risk factors
• sexual intercourse