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Natural killer cells and pregnancy outcomes in women with recurrent miscarriage and infertility : a systematic review

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Tang, Ai-Wei, Alfirevic, Zarko and Quenby, Siobhan (2011) Natural killer cells and pregnancy outcomes in women with recurrent miscarriage and infertility : a systematic review. Human Reproduction, Vol.26 (No.8). pp. 1971-1980. doi:10.1093/humrep/der164

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/humrep/der164

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Peripheral natural killer (pNK) and uterine NK (uNK) cells have been associated with reproductive failure. We systematically reviewed the literature to assess whether numbers or activity of pNK or uNK cells predicted subsequent pregnancy and outcome.

METHODS: We searched the electronic MEDLINE database from 1950 to April 2010 for relevant publications by using MeSH terms 'natural killer cells', 'reproduction' and 'pregnancy complications'. We included studies that measured pre-pregnancy pNK and uNK cell numbers or activity in women with recurrent miscarriage (RM) or infertility, and reported subsequent pregnancy outcomes of miscarriage or failure to conceive after assisted reproductive technology (ART).

RESULTS: The search identified 783 publications and 12 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. There were too few women entered into the observational studies to assess whether high pNK cell percentages or activity predicted subsequent miscarriage in women with idiopathic RM (numbers: n = 32, OR 17, 95% CI 0.82-350.6, activity: n = 92, OR 2.51, 95% CI 0.16-40.29), or implantation failure (n = 203, OR 1.35, 95% CI 0.28-6.46), or miscarriage in infertile women after ART (n = 79, OR 2.48, 95% CI 0.50-12.32). Similarly, the studies of uNK cells were not large enough to assess whether abnormal uNK cell density predicted subsequent miscarriage in women with idiopathic RM (n = 72, OR 1.33, 95% CI 0.16-11.11). None of the uNK cell studies in women with infertility reported pregnancy outcomes dichotomized for uNK cell numbers.

CONCLUSIONS: The prognostic value of measuring pNK or uNK cell parameters remains uncertain. More studies are needed to confirm or refute the role of NK cell assessments as a predictive test for screening women who may benefit from immunotherapy.

Item Type: Journal Article
Subjects: R Medicine > RG Gynecology and obstetrics
Divisions: Faculty of Medicine > Warwick Medical School
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): Killer cells -- Research, Systematic reviews (Medical research), Infertility, Female -- Research, Miscarriage -- Research, Pregnancy -- Complications -- Research
Journal or Publication Title: Human Reproduction
Publisher: OUP
ISSN: 0268-1161
Official Date: August 2011
Dates:
DateEvent
August 2011Published
Volume: Vol.26
Number: No.8
Page Range: pp. 1971-1980
DOI: 10.1093/humrep/der164
Status: Peer Reviewed
Publication Status: Published
Access rights to Published version: Restricted or Subscription Access

Data sourced from Thomson Reuters' Web of Knowledge

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