The evaluation of the immune status and the detection of the fetal cells in peripheral blood of patients with pregnancy induced hypertension syndrome

Objective To investigate various types and quantities of fetal cells getting into peripheral blood of pregnant women and immune status related to pregnancy induced hypertension syndrome (PIH) and analyze the etiology of PIH.Methods (1) Three markers of fetal nucleated red blood cells (fNRBCs) in normal pregnant women(n=43)and PIH patients (n=39)were measured by flow cytometry: CD71,HbF/iAg and HbF/CA.(2)We detected the levels of sub-groups of lymphocytes and some plasma cytokines.such as TNF-α and IL-6.The blood samples were from normal pregnant subjects and patients of PIH.Results In the peripheral blood of patients of PIH and normal pregnant subjects,(1) The quantities of fetal cells using three different methods in PIH [6.56(11.37)%、0.09(0.16)%、0.06(0.11)%]were significantly different from normal pregnant subjects[1.58(3.35)%、0.04(0.08)%、0.02(0.06)%],Z= -5.31,-2.97,-4.13 respectively,P＜0.01.(2)Except CD8,the levels of CD3 (76.4±8.5)%,CD4(42.6±6.4)%,CD4/CD8(1.5±0.4)%,CD19(10.5±3.9)%,CD16/CD56 (12.2±7.7)%,TNF-α (1.4 ±0.6)μg/L and IL-6(89.6±12.9)μg/L in PIH were significantly different from normal pregnant subjects[CD3(70.4±8.3)%,CD4(35.3±6.9)%,CD4/CD8(1.2±0.4)%,CD19(8.2±2.8)%,CD16/CD56(20.5±8.9)%,TNF-α(0.5±0.2)μg/L and IL-6(22.0±5.7)μg/L,respectively,P＜0.001].There were no significant differences observed in the level of CD8(P＞0.05).Conclusion The increment of fNRBCs getting into peripheral blood of pregnant women and associated immune status were implicated in the development of PIH. Key words: Hypertension,pregnancy-induced;  Erythroblasts; Lymphocyte subsets;  Cytokines; Flow cytometry