Anti-protein Z antibodies in women with pathologic pregnancies

Blood. 2003 Jun 15;101(12):4850-2. doi: 10.1182/blood-2002-12-3802. Epub 2003 Mar 6.

Abstract

Protein Z deficiencies have recently been described in women with unexplained early fetal loss. Using a new, specifically elaborated, commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), we performed a case-control study on anti-protein Z immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM antibodies in 191 nonthrombotic, nonthrombophilic women with consecutive pathologic pregnancies. Levels of anti-protein Z antibodies were categorized in 3 strata (percentiles 1 through 74, 75 through 97, 98 through 100 among controls). The 2 upper levels of IgG and IgM anti-protein Z antibodies were associated with the risk of unexplained recurrent embryo loss or fetal death independently from habitual antiphospholipid/anticofactor antibodies, and a dose-effect relationship between antibody levels and the clinical risks was evidenced. In women, enhanced immune-complex formation with protein Z may play a role in unexplained embryo losses and, from the 10th week of gestation, may favor hypercoagulability in the maternal placenta side.

MeSH terms

  • Abortion, Spontaneous / immunology*
  • Antibodies, Anticardiolipin / blood
  • Antibodies, Antiphospholipid / blood
  • Autoantibodies / blood*
  • Blood Proteins / analysis
  • Blood Proteins / deficiency
  • Blood Proteins / immunology*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Female
  • Fetal Death / immunology
  • Gestational Age
  • Glycoproteins / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Immunoglobulin M / blood
  • Logistic Models
  • Pre-Eclampsia / immunology
  • Pregnancy
  • beta 2-Glycoprotein I

Substances

  • Antibodies, Anticardiolipin
  • Antibodies, Antiphospholipid
  • Autoantibodies
  • Blood Proteins
  • Glycoproteins
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunoglobulin M
  • beta 2-Glycoprotein I
  • plasma protein Z