Maternal immunization by husband's leukocytes for repeated fetal death associated with mild pre-eclampsia — case report with successful outcome

We report a case of repeated fetal death at 31 gestational weeks associated with mild non-proteinuric pre-eclampsia and intrauterine growth retardation. After double intradermal immunisation with paternal leukocytes, a third pregnancy proceeded uneventfully until it ended at 38 weeks. Maternal anti-paternal blocking antibody activity was assessed by the erythrocyte antibody inhibition (EAI) test. Serologic testing revealed that the couple did not share HLA class I antigens. The mechanisms underlying the likely benefit from immunotherapy are discussed.