The following blood tests are recommended for the female:
In addition the couple should be tested for HLA compatibility, also known as DQ-Alpha testing. This determines whether the couple is so similar that the female's immune system does not produce protective antibodies to protect the fetus because her body does not recognize the cells arising from her partner as foreign. The treatment for this condition is Lymphocyte Immune Therapy or LIT. This is a paternal white blood cell immunization from the male to the female. This helps to stimulate the protective antibody reaction. The immunization is done subcutaneously on the forearm of the female partner. This is usually repeated at the time of a positive pregnancy test.
Note: as of January 2002 the US FDA has put a suspension on LIT treatment to determine its efficacy. Contact the Beer Clinic for further instructions, which most likely will include IVIG treatment (see below).
There are other blood components that can cause problems but if the above treatment is followed the combined effort is usually enough to combat the remaining components. The treatment is successful 75-85% of the time depending on the combination of problems. But sometimes the female partner has cells in her body that attack the fetus independent of the other antibodies. These cells are called Natural Killer Cells, CD 56+, and CD 19+5+ cells.
In the event that these cells are present in higher than normal limits, there is a treatment outlined in the reading material known as IVIG. This is very successful but can cause unpleasant side-effects, the most common one being a migraine headache that can last 24 hours. Not all patients can tolerate it. This therapy is usually used in conjunction with LIT. The IVIG product that is used by The Beer Clinic is detergent treated. This product, Venaglobin S, has been in use without incident for over 15 years. There are other products on the market but are not as safe as this one.
At this time the only reliable place to do the entire immunological workup and have the Lymphocyte Immune Therapy and/or IVIG in the US is
The Beer ClinicAt the Beer Clinic, you can see either Dr. Alan Beer or Dr. Joanne Kwak-Kim. You can send them your blood for testing to see if the LIT or IVIG is necessary. You may not need to physically go there. They will send you a letter outlining your personal protocol (recipe for success) and if you do not require LIT or IVIG you can just have your doctor prescribe the other medications. The Beer Clinic may recommend follow-up blood tests so that they can monitor your progress and adjust your protocol. In Canada, IVIG is available at various centers where a study is being done to determine its effectiveness.Reproductive Medicine Program
Finch University of Health Sciences
Chicago Medical School3333 Green Bay Road
North Chicago, Illinois
60064Phone: (847) 578-3233
Fax: (847) 578-3339
E-mail: info@repro-med.net
www.repro-med.net
Contact me for further information if you are Canadian.
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You can donate through their website, canadianbreastfeedingfoundation.org, or by mail to Canadian Breastfeeding Foundation, 5764 Monkland Ave, Suite 424, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H4A 1E9.
Disclaimer: All material provided in asklenore.info is provided for educational purposes only. Consult your physician regarding the advisability of any opinions or recommendations with respect to your individual situation.
