Maternal Cell Mediated Immunity to Foetal Transplantation Antigens

The leukocyte migration test was used to study maternal cell mediated immunity to foetal transplantation antigens present on cord lymphocytes at the time of birth. Four out of 26 primigravida patients and three out of 16 multigravida patients gave positive results with this technique. The inhibition of migration achieved with these patients was less than that obtained with a positive control group of polytransfused cardiac surgical patients. Positive results in the leukocyte migration test were correlated with a smaller placental weight and a reduced placental-foetal weight ratio. There was no significant reduction in birth weights. There appeared to be no correlation in the present study between the presence of cytotoxic antibody as detected by the microlymphocytotoxicity test and a positive leukocyte migration test.