Immunogenetic Factors in Preeclampsia and Eclampsia-Reply

Abstract

Although we carefully stated in our article that the results of our study did not rule out other potential immunologic mechanisms, maternal-fetal incompatibility with respect to blood group, HLA, or Y-linked transplantation antigens is extremely unlikely as a cause of the preeclampsia-eclampsia syndrome. Drs Toivanen and Hirvonen apparently disagree with this conclusion but give no new data to support their opinion. Because of the infrequency of severe preeclampsia and eclampsia, we consider our series of patients to be a relatively large one. Perhaps it should be pointed out that the initial communication demonstrating the striking association between the HLA-B27 antigen and ankylosing spondylitis reported 40 patients with the disorder. 1 More tissue-typing of mothers and infants may be desirable but would not alter the fact that one of the eclamptic women reported was ABO- and Rh-compatible and shared two common HLA antigens with her female fetus. This indicates