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Summary: Past
Abortion Might be a Factor in Autoimmune Diseases
Larger than
normal fetomaternal transfer of cells occurs after an
abortion. Factor in autoimmune diseases.
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In
human pregnancies, bi-directional transfer of living
maternal and embryonic cells begins with the implantation of
the embryo and continues throughout the pregnancy. Maternal
cells pass into the fetal circulation and fetal cells pass
into the maternal circulation. When fetal cells enter into
the mother's circulation, they can exist via reproduction in
maternal tissues for decades after the pregnancy and lead to
fetal microchimerism (FMc). Maternal cells also enter into
the fetal circulation, where they can exist via reproduction
in the child's tissues long after birth of the child, even
into adulthood and lead to maternal microchimerism (MMc).1
Studies have found that MMc in a newborn is usually benign
or beneficial, but is associated with a spectrum of chronic
inflammatory diseases.1
In addition to a child acquiring the MMc directly from
his/her mother, microchimerism is also possible to be
derived from an older sibling. Cells originating from the
gestation of an older sibling could exist via uterine
placental connection to the fetus of a subsequent pregnancy.1
A 2001 study found that a larger than normal fetomaternal
transfer of cells occurs after an abortion.2,3
Subsequent analysis of published research, that included
pregnancy history information, concluded that fetal loss was
significantly associated with the development of
microchimerism.4
Additionally, the effect of procreation with multiple
partners has been identified as a possible influence on the
development of microchimerism. Researchers found that women
who had children with more than one partner had higher
mortality rates than those who had only a single partner.2
Furthermore, it has been suggested that MMc is more likely
to occur with elective terminations of pregnancy than with
spontaneous miscarriages.5
It has been theorized that the persistence of fetal cells
following pregnancy can lead to maternal immune responses to
these immunologically foreign cells and may contribute to
postpartum autoimmune diseases.2
Other studies have suggested that fetal cell microchimerism
may occur in a much wider spectrum.2
The consistently rising incidence of autoimmune diseases in
women over the past four decades may be attributed to the
increase in the utilization of abortion.6
1Stevens,
Anne M. Do Maternal Cells Trigger or Perpetuate
Autoimmune Diseases in Children? Pediatric Rheumatology.
May 2007.
2Johnson,
Kirby L., Diana W. Bianchi. Fetal Cells in Maternal
Tissue Following Pregnancy: What Are the Consequences?
Human Reproduction Update. 10(6) 497-502. August 2004.
3Bianchi,
Diana W., Antonio Farina, William Weber, Laurent D.
Delli-Bovi, Matthew DeRiso, John M. Williams, and Katherine
W. Klinger. Significant Fetal-Maternal Hemorrhage After
Termination of Pregnancy: Implications for Development of
Fetal Cell Microchimerism. American Journal of
Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2001.
4Khosrotehrani,
Kiarash, Kirby L. Johnson, Joseph Lau, Alain Dupuy, Dong
Hyun Cha, and Diana W. Bianchi. The Influence of Fetal
Loss on the Presence of Fetal Cell Microchimerism.
Arthritis & Rheumatism. November 2003. 48(11) 3237-3241.
5
McGrath, Jr. Hugh. Letter to the Editor, Arthritis &
Rheumatism, September 2004, 50(9) 3058-3059.
6
Miech, Ralph P. The Role of Fetal Microchimerism in
Autoimmune Disease. International Journal of Clinical
and Experimental Medicine. June 2010; 3(2): 164-168
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