The ethipathogenic role of immunological factors in patients with spontaneous abortions
Bulgarian Medical Journal, 2024, 18(2), 7-12.
К. Neykova1, P. Ignatov2,3, T. Yordanova2
1 State University Hospital “Maychin Dom”, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, MU ‒ Sofia
2 Department of Public Health, Medical University ‒ Sofia
3 Department of Fetal Medicine, Orthogyn Medical Center ‒ Sofia
Abstract. Conception, normal pregnancy development and delivery at term are the result of a complex system of balanced processes of the immunological system in pregnant women, known under the name of “immunological tolerance”. Scientists, in their attempt to develop future clinical protocols about conception and pregnancy development problems, still show controversial results concerning embryonic implantation, referred to as “organ transplantation” of a “tissue allogenic transplant”. Immunological cells are represented mainly at the level of the decidua endometrial lining, such as macrophages, natural killer cells (NK-cells), and dendritic cells. The immunological system is essential to protect maternal and foetal organisms from various pathogenic microorganisms. It is represented mainly by processes of constant delicate immunological modulation rather than suppression. Supposedly, any change in cytokine levels at the decidua could eventually lead to spontaneous abortions and/or other pregnancy complications.
Key words: immunological system, natural killer cells, recurrent spontaneous abortions
Address for correspondence: Konstantsa Krasimirova Neykova, MD, e-mail: neykovaconstantsa@yahoo.com