Changes in immunity can predict premature birth.
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Physicians actively study the work of female immunity in pregnancy, hoping to learn to predict in advance the premature onset of labor for routine blood analysis. "The period of pregnancy is a powerful transformation of immunity. We managed to find out that immune defense varies according to strict rules that can be predicted. If we manage to isolate the restructuring of immunity, which predetermines premature birth, then we can predict such a development of events in advance using only a blood test, "experts say. The leaders of the new study were the employees of the College of Medicine at the University of California Stanford. One of the authors, Professor Bryce Gaudillere, has already introduced into the obstetrics the term "the immune mechanism of pregnancy". Professor suggests using this mechanism to predict the degree of risk to the future baby. In the United States, approximately 10% of babies are born 3-4 weeks earlier than the expected date of delivery. However, modern medicine can not unequivocally and accurately predict the beginning of premature labor. To correct the situation, the University specialists took for the study the blood of eighteen pregnant women. All subjects were diagnosed with a single-fetal pregnancy without any abnormalities. Women took the blood test once every three months, and then, one and a half months after the birth of the child. The experts compared the results of the analysis, taking into account the moment when the baby was born: at the planned time, or earlier. Using the technique of flow cytometry, scientists evaluated the quality of the abilities of all cells of immunity. The experts calculated a variety of immunocytes, followed the most active signaling directions of each immunocyte. They managed to determine the reaction of cells to substances that conduct an imitation of a microbial or viral attack. With the help of statistical modeling, scientists created a kind of graph, which became the prototype of the immune mechanism of pregnancy. He reflected all the changes in immunity during the entire gestation period. As it has been established, correction of immunity is necessary for safety of the future kid: it should strictly correspond to the schedule. "This mechanism shows what specific signs of immune defense we need to know for a certain trimester. The experiment proved that the killer structures and leukocytes during pregnancy are stimulated. Signal directions of T-helpers always coincide with a certain period. Otherwise, you can expect spontaneous miscarriage or premature birth. We can not describe the specific factors that lead to such complications, but we can predict them by blood analysis, "Professor Gaudillere explained. The main result of the experiment is a proof of the existence of an immune mechanism in pregnancy. Further, the scientists plan to improve the use of this mechanism and introduce it into practical medicine.
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