Immunological Responses in Pregnancy and Survival of Fetal Homograft

Abstract

Immunological responses were studied in pregnant women and controls using as tests phytohaemagglutinin-induced lymphocyte transformation and the tuberculin reaction. Significantly reduced responses were found to both tests in the pregnant women. These results suggest that a reduction in T-cell activity during pregnancy may help protect the fetus from rejection by its mother's immunological mechanisms. © 1972, British Medical Journal Publishing Group. All rights reserved.