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Immunology and Pregnancy Loss

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Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

Abstract

Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL), defined as two or more consecutive miscarriages, is attributable to multiple causes. In about 50% of such couples, no documented cause of pregnancy loss can be found. The feto-placental unit evades rejection by the maternal immune system by poorly understood mechanisms. Each level in the establishment of normal pregnancy has been implicated as a possible site of immune-mediated reproductive failure. Both autoimmune and alloimmune mechanisms have been proposed. Since the mechanisms allowing a mother to tolerate her semi-allogeneic conceptus are not well defined, it is difficult to assess the role of abnormal immunologic factors in reproductive failure. The immunological causes of RPL is usually a diagnosis of exclusion. In this chapter a brief overview of available scientific evidence is provided regarding involvement of immune aberrations in pathogenesis of recurrent pregnancy loss.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India

    Monika Gupta

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  1. Monika Gupta
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Correspondence to Monika Gupta .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Babu Jagjivan Ram Memorial Hospital, New Delhi, India

    Sumita Mehta

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, UCMS & GTB Hospital, New Delhi, India

    Bindiya Gupta

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Gupta, M. (2018). Immunology and Pregnancy Loss. In: Mehta, S., Gupta, B. (eds) Recurrent Pregnancy Loss. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-7338-0_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-7338-0_4

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-10-7337-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-10-7338-0

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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