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Biomedical subjects

W J Francis

Publications and source records attributed to W J Francis.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1988

Trophoblast membrane infusion for unexplained recurrent miscarriage.

A novel protocol is described which has been developed for immunotherapy in unexplained recurrent miscarriage. This is based on a single intravenous infusion with isolated placental trophoblast plasma membrane vesicle preparations. Clinical experience gained with this approach is described. A total of 16/21 (76%) patients who subsequently had pregnancies have now achieved a live birth or are currently pregnant at greater than 28 weeks gestation.

Abortion, Habitual↗
PubMed1986

Immunity to cytomegalovirus in women with unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion.

Humoral and cellular immunity to cytomegalovirus (CMV) has been assessed in women suffering unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortions (RSA). A significantly lower prevalence of serum anti-CMV antibodies was observed for RSA women compared with either their male partners or age-matched female controls, unlike for serum antibodies to Herpes simplex virus. In addition, there was a markedly impaired lymphocyte proliferative response to CMV for CMV-sero-positive RSA women compared with CMV-seropositive controls. These results indicate that women with unexplained RSA have difficulty in responding to CMV, and are of significance when considering leukocyte transfusion immunotherapy.

Abortion, Habitual↗
PubMed1984

Determinants of immunological responsiveness in recurrent spontaneous abortion.

A defined group of 20 women suffering recurrent spontaneous abortions of unknown etiology was studied for determinants relevant to immune responsiveness. A low prevalence of serum anti-CMV antibodies (35%; cf, 65% in controls)--but not anti-herpes-simplex-virus or Epstein-Barr virus antibodies--was noted. Only two (10%) of these women had lymphocytotoxic antibodies following their repeated pregnancies; low titer anti-sperm antibody was present in two other of these women. Whereas there was no significantly increased sharing of HLA-A or -B antigens within these couples compared with controls, there was an increased incidence of apparent HLA-B antigen homozygosity in the women. These data indicate a degree of immunological nonresponsiveness both to cytomegalovirus and to cell-surface alloantigens in habitually aborting women and, together with MLC data, provide further evidence that immunogenetic events may be relevant to reproductive success.

Abortion, Habitual↗