Natural lymphocyte cytotoxicity of 99 pregnant women delivering intrauterine growth retarded (IUGR) babies was compared to that of 460 women with normal pregnancies. Lymphocytes separated from maternal blood were used as effectors in the in vitro cytotoxicity test using human embryonic fibroblast cells as target. The cytotoxicity test was based on the assessment of endogenous alkaline phosphatase activity of the target cells. A definite shift towards IUGR pregnancies was observed in the distribution of patients when analyzed according to step by step increase of lymphocyte cytotoxicity values. The incidence of increased cytotoxic activity (greater than or equal to 40%) was three times higher in the group of women with IUGR pregnancies than that in the control group. Within the group of women showing increased immunoreactivity during pregnancy the participation of IUGR pregnancies was 40.4%, while only 9.7% of the women with normal cytotoxicity belonged to the IUGR group. Combined analysis of ponderal indices and cytotoxicity values suggests that increased immunoreactivity is associated with a nutritive insufficiency resulting in the disproportionate form of IUGR.

Birth Weight↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Threatened extension of myocardial infarction in situ and coronary spasm].

The authors report a case of threatened spread occurring 4 days after posterior-inferior myocardial infarction and involving the same territory. The spontaneous occurrence during coronary angiography of an occlusive spasm of the right coronary artery with recurrence of angina and ST elevation in the area of initial necrosis suggests that this mechanism might be the contributory factor to the threat of in situ spread. Thus intermittent coronary occlusion from repeated spasm can bring about incomplete necrosis of the area of dependent myocardium and by extension threaten the viability of groups of still healthy cells. A syndrome of this kind initially requires coronary-dilating medical treatment, with nitrate derivatives and calcium inhibitors and then early coronary angiography with the use of pharmacodynamic tests to assess the suitability of surgery.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Pregnancy-saving measures in premature rupture of fetal membranes in the 22nd week of pregnancy].

The obstetric-perinatologic problems raised by premature rupturing of the membranes in the 22nd gestational week is presented in the form of a case report from the Perinatal Centre of the University of Cologne. By close ultrasonic monitoring of the course of development, measurement of parameters of inflammation and administration of prophylactic antibiotics pregnancy could be prolonged by 9 weeks with good fetal outcome.

Adult↗