Maternal serum soluble HLA-G levels relationship with missed abortions

Introduction: Half of fetal genome is originated from paternal chromosome, and it is unclear how immune tolerance develops to fetal tissues in pregnancy. Soluble HLA-G (sHLA-G) which is detectable in maternal serum is one of the molecules that prevent fetal rejection in pregnancy. This molecule is expressed by extravillous trophoblasts, placental macrophages and endothelial cells of mesenchymal chorionic villuses. Although sHLA-G is detectable in serum of non-pregnant women at low levels, it is detectable in mainly pregnancy with high serum levels. Problems concerning the maternal immune tolerance are thought to play role in pregnancy wastage. The aim of our study is to detect the relationship between the missed abortus and maternal serum HLA-G levels. Materials and Methods: 40 women with missed abortuses and 40 women with uncomplicated pregnancies, 80 women in total were included into the study. Serum HLA-G levels were measured in addition to routine transvaginal ultrasonography and laboratory work-up during pregnancy visits. Results: Demographic parameters were statistically similar between the groups. Median serum HLA-G level in study group was statistically lower than the median serum HLA-G level of control group (P< 0,001). Conclusion: Maternal serum sHLA-G measurement can be used as a new diagnostic tool in predicting the pregnant women with high risk of missed abortus.