Recurrent Pregnancy Loss > Testing > Natural Killer Cell Activity > HLA DQ and HLA DQ alpha Genotyping

The HLA system is part of the system that determines one's specific immune system and what one's immune system recognizes as foreign. Every individual has their own specific HLA system. Occasionally, couples will share certain determinants of the HLA system. One that is of particular concern is one that is designated HLA DQ alpha 4.1. In couples who share this particular determinant, the typical history is one normal delivery followed by recurrent losses. These typically occur at about seven to ten weeks of pregnancy after everything seems to be going okay.

There are currently no acceptable treatments for this problem. Lymphocyte immunization therapy has been attempted, but is not an approved procedure in the United States. The data supporting the use of intravenous immunoglobulins in this problem are not convincing enough to justify the very significant expense of this treatment. Unfortunately, this is one probelm wehre a couple may need to consider the use of either donor sperm or donor eggs.

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