[Maternal-fetal mixed lymphocyte culture in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy].
To determine the maternal-fetal histocompatibility in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) by means of a morphologic method for mixed lymphocyte culture. Twenty-two pregnant women with ICP and 21 normal pregnant women were enrolled in the present study. Mixed lymphocyte culture was conducted using lymphocytes obtained from maternal peripheral blood and cord blood of their fetuses. The transformational rates of lymphocytes were calculated and compared between normal and ICP-complicated pregnancies. The transformational rate in ICP was (24 +/- 5)%, while that in normal pregnant women was (36 +/- 9)%, the difference was significant between two groups (P < 0.001). The presence of pregnancy-induced hypertension did not affect the transformational rates in ICP group (P > 0.05). The transformational rate of lymphocyte in ICP did not correlate with cholylglycine level in serum significantly (P > 0.05). Decreased maternal-fetal lymphocyte reaction is demonstrated in ICP and it may play an etiological role.