ABH secretor status and reproductive success in couples with primary recurrent spontaneous abortion

Abstract

FUT2 is an autosomal gene that controls the secretion of the ABH blood group antigens in organic fluids. The secretor gene plays an important role during intrauterine life. The aim of this study is to investigate a possible association between the ABH system and reproductive success in couples with primary repeated spontaneous abortion (RSA). Sixty-six couples with primary repeated spontaneous abortion and 356 consecutive healthy puerperae with their newborn infants from the white population of Rome were studied. All couples were seen at the Center for Reproductive Disorders of the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the University of Rome, La Sapienza. Secretor phenotype was determined by saliva in all subjects by laboratory standard procedures. In couples with primary RSA, the frequency of non-secretor phenotype of both husbands and wives (37.9%) were significantly higher than those of newborns from other couples (21.4% for male newborns and 29.4% for female newborns). In husbands, but not in wives, of the couples with primary RSA succeeding in having at least a live born infant after 5 years of follow up, the frequency of non-secretor phenotype was significantly lower than those without a liveborn infant (22.8% vs 54.8%). The presence of joint secretor phenotype in both husband and wife was positively associated with having a liveborn infant after 5 years of follow up (odds ratio = 4.57, 95% C.I.1.39-15.6). Secretor phenotype of couples with RSA, especially of the husband, could facilitate 'reproductive success'.