Pregnancy Following Donor Insemination: Implications for Preeclampsia

Abstract

Preeclampsia remains a condition of theories as to its etiology. One theory of interest is based upon the observation of the occasional appearance of “toxemia” in a parous patient in whom prior pregnancies have been uncomplicated and the index gestation is with a new partner. Proposed is that the condition develops as the result of lack of immunologic tolerance to new antigens brought by the new partner. To investigate this hypothesis and to study the impact of brief antigenic exposure on the risk of “toxemia,” recipients of artificial insemination by donor seemed an ideal population. A series of 44 donor-initiated pregnancies was surveyed. The incidence of hypertensive complications in this group, 36 of whom were nulliparous, did not differ from the rate for all pregnancies at this institution. These observations are discussed in light of the proposed theory.