Chapter 5

Immune System and Perinatal Outcomes

Shigeru Saito

Abstract

Pregnancy represents a semiallograft to a maternal host. To prevent semiallograft rejection, the maternal immune system dramatically changes to a unique immune system during pregnancy. Maladaptation of this system could cause implantation failure, recurrent spontaneous abortion, preeclampsia and preterm delivery. The objective of this report is to review the pathophysiology of these events in human pregnancy from the aspects of reproductive immunology.

Total Pages: 74-87 (14)

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