What is the name of the antibody test during pregnancy. Antibodies during pregnancy - what to do? Antibody titer in Rh-negative pregnant women

They are proteins that are produced by immune cells. They are necessary to combat foreign microorganisms. During pregnancy, a woman's body is vulnerable to many infections, and this affects the development of the fetus. Therefore, it is important to know if antibodies are present in the blood.

Antibodies are commonly understood as immune cells that recognize and destroy foreign microorganisms. It can be not only viruses, bacteria, toxic substances, but also cells of the body. Their formation comes from, and are a kind of protective reaction.

During pregnancy, antibodies can be produced against, as they resemble a foreign body. This occurs with incompatibility in Rhesus and blood type. Usually, during pregnancy, they are tested for antibodies to TORCH infections. This is a test for rubella, cytomegalovirus and.

There are several types of antibodies, each of which refers to certain antigens: lgA, lgE, lgM, lgG, lgD.

These antibodies perform a specific function. Thanks to the analysis for antibodies, a fungal, viral or bacterial infection can be determined. A change in the amount of antibodies provides information about whether changes in the body are a protective reaction or they fight infection.

In addition, you can find out if additional drugs are needed to fight the infection or if the immune system can handle itself. When determine the Rh factor. An antibody test helps determine the stage of the disease and predict treatment.The production of antibodies in in large numbers occurs when a virus or bacteria enters the body.When foreign microorganisms collide with antibodies, a person's temperature rises, which indicates the development of an inflammatory process.

More information about the blood test for antibodies can be found in the video:

In the future, when pathogenic bacteria and viruses enter the body, antibodies multiply faster. The immune system remembers foreign bodies, so the reaction of antigens to them will increase each time. At the same time, acquired immunity to various types of infections appears.At the stage of pregnancy planning, they may be prescribed to take an analysis for antibodies to the sperm of the spouse if in the past pregnancies ended in miscarriages.

Preparation and execution of the procedure

All Rh-negative pregnant women should be tested for antibodies. The procedure is performed in the first trimester once at week 8, and in the second - 2 times.

Preparation for a blood test involves compliance within 2-3 days:

  • Fatty, spicy and fried foods should be excluded from the diet.
  • Avoid coffee and sugary carbonated drinks.
  • Also, on the eve of the study, physiotherapy procedures should not be carried out.
  • When using certain drugs, you should inform your doctor, as they may affect the result of the study.

Donate blood on an empty stomach early in the morning. The blood sampling procedure is carried out from the cubital vein. When applying a tourniquet and during puncture, there are discomfort which pass after a couple of minutes.

An analysis for the Rh conflict is taken every month up to 32 weeks, if, when registering, the father is Rh positive and the mother is negative.If the antibody titer is elevated, then the likelihood of developing a fetal disease increases. In some cases, the pregnancy is terminated. If lgM antibodies are present in the analyzes, then this indicates the development of an infectious disease. The presence of lgG in the blood indicates that the woman contracted the infection before pregnancy and does not pose a threat to the fetus.


The concentration of certain antibodies in the blood has its own norms:

  • lgA level - 0.35-3.55 g / l
  • lgG level - 7.8-18.5 g / l
  • lgM level - 0.8-2.9 g / l

If, as a result of the study, antibodies lgM and lgG are not detected, i.e. negative, this indicates that the body has not encountered infections and infection can occur at any time. In this case, the study is carried out every month.

With a positive result, i.e. the presence of antibodies in the blood indicates that the woman had an infection recently, before or during pregnancy. The doctor will prescribe an additional examination, as this condition can be dangerous for the fetus.

A positive lgG and a negative lgM indicates a past infection and this will not affect the development of the fetus.

If in the analyzes lgG is negative, and lgM is positive, then the infection occurred during pregnancy.In the blood during the study of antibodies to TORCH infections, lgM should not be normal. In medical practice, AT-lgG is considered a variant of the norm.

In the absence of lgG to the rubella virus or an insufficient level, it is necessary to be vaccinated. It can only be done at a negative lgM level. Rubella antibodies will be present in the blood. After vaccination, you can become pregnant after 2-3 months.Antibodies to phospholipids should normally be less than 10 U / ml.

Deviations from the norm: consequences for the fetus

With a negative Rh blood in a woman and a positive one in the fetus, an Rh conflict develops when antibodies enter the baby's bloodstream. As a result, the child may develop hemolytic disease,.

Rhesus conflict between mother and fetus can lead to disruption due to lack of oxygen supply during gestation.

Hemolytic disease can cause organ dysfunction in the fetus. At birth, a child can observe an increase in size,. With hemolytic disease in a baby, a blood transfusion is performed.

If antibodies are found in the blood, the cause of their appearance should be established.

To determine the degree of risk to the fetus, the antibody titer is determined throughout the entire period of pregnancy. Thus, their concentration in 1 mm of solution can be detected.

Consequences for the fetus:

  • If the antibody titer is 1:4, then this indicates an Rh-conflict pregnancy. If the antibody titer is significantly increased by 1:16, then in this case an amniocentesis is indicated. With this titer, the likelihood of intrauterine fetal death. Amniocentesis is performed no earlier than 26 weeks of pregnancy.
  • If the titer is 1:64, then they resort to early delivery by caesarean section.
  • Detection of antibodies in the blood in the early stages can lead to infection of the fetus with this infection. As a result, the child's liver, spleen, and nervous system are affected. A woman is offered an artificial termination of pregnancy. On the later dates the probability of transmission of infection to the baby is 70%, but the risk of complications is reduced.
  • The presence of antibodies to rubella in the blood of a pregnant woman is dangerous for the fetus, as the nervous tissue, heart, and eye tissues are affected. If the infection occurred at the beginning of pregnancy, then this is an indication for termination of pregnancy. In the second and third trimet, antibodies do not cause serious consequences. The child may lag behind in development, some organs do not function properly, etc.
  • If the mother has antibodies to cytomegalovirus infection, this can lead to the death of the fetus. In other cases, it is possible to have a child with a congenital pathology in the form of dropsy of the brain, an enlarged liver, pneumonia, heart disease, etc.
  • With an increase in antiphospholipid antibodies, immune aggression develops. Immune cells destroy phospholipids, resulting in the development of antiphospholipid syndrome. This condition during the period of bearing a child is very dangerous and can cause miscarriage, oxygen starvation, and the development of intrauterine pathologies. All this is associated with circulatory disorders in the placenta.

To avoid severe consequences from the Rh-conflict state of the mother and child, it is necessary to undergo a special program Anti-Dgamma-globulin.

After birth, the baby must take blood. With a negative Rh factor in a child and mother, Anti-Dgamma-globulin is administered to the baby.

If a woman during pregnancy received a blow to the stomach or fell, then with bleeding and placental leakage, gamma globulin is administered. Antiresistive immunoglobulin is administered to a pregnant woman at the 7th month of pregnancy and after childbirth on the 3rd day.

It is important to take tests in a timely manner - not during pregnancy, but before it occurs. So you can protect yourself and the unborn baby from possible serious consequences.

The emergence of an immunological conflict between mother and child is due to incompatibility in terms of Rh or blood type and the production of specific antibodies in the female body.

AB0-incompatibility

Group membership incompatibility occurs when:

  • the mother has group I, and the partner has group IV (incompatibility always occurs);
  • the mother has II, and the father has group IV (the probability of incompatibility is 66%);
  • the mother has group III, and the father has group IV (probability - 66%);
  • the mother has group I, and the father has II or III (the probability of incompatibility is 50%);
  • the mother has group II, and the father has group III (probability - 50%);
  • the mother has group III, and the father has group II (probability - 25%).

In the blood of a woman there are isohemagglutinins to erythrocyte antigens of another group. The presence of these substances suggests the occurrence of incompatibility. With other combinations of the AB0 system, incompatibility does not occur in future parents.

Sometimes antibodies appear even before pregnancy. Their production is activated by transfusion of incompatible AB0 (group) blood or donor serum, vaccination. AB0-incompatibility of partners may occur if the history contains data:

  • habitual miscarriage;
  • prematurity, artificial termination of pregnancy in the later stages;
  • intrauterine fetal death;
  • caesarean section and complicated childbirth (manual separation of the placenta, its premature detachment).

Rh incompatibility

Rhesus conflict manifests itself only under the following conditions:

  • a woman has Rh-negative blood (Rh-);
  • the fetus has inherited the father's Rh+ blood.

Important! Rh sensitization occurs more often if partners have compatible or same-group blood.

Since the majority of the population (85%) has Rh +, the probability of developing a conflict over Rh affiliation is too small - only 0.8%. However, it is Rh sensitization that is given great attention, since the immunological conflict is fraught with serious consequences for the fetus.

The protein present on the surface of the RBCs of Rh-positive blood is recognized by the woman's immune cells as foreign and triggers the mechanism of the immune fight against it. The immune system of a woman, encountering Rh-positive red blood cells for the first time, synthesizes specific IgM antibodies. During the first pregnancy, rather large protein formations enter the fetal blood only in small quantities, so the probability of immunological incompatibility is only 10%. However, with subsequent pregnancies, the chances of developing Rh incompatibility between mother and child increase significantly.

Upon repeated contact, smaller IgG antibodies are produced, which easily penetrate the placenta into the blood of the fetus, activating the process of hemolysis (destruction of red blood cells) and the accumulation of bilirubin (a substance resulting from the breakdown of hemoglobin).

Why is blood incompatibility dangerous?

The immune reaction in the mother leads to the destruction of the erythrocytes of the fetus. At the same time, the woman does not suffer in any way, the process of formation of specific proteins is completely harmless for her and is asymptomatic. Only the fetus experiences the negative effect of the immunological conflict.

The destruction of erythrocytes, the main transporters of oxygen to the cells, leads to the accumulation of fluid in all tissues of the fetus. After birth, maternal antibodies in the baby's blood still continue to destroy red blood cells, this process is clinically manifested by hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN). The state manifests itself in the forms:

  1. Anemic - the development of anemia of varying severity.
  2. Icteric - the appearance of yellowness of the baby's skin due to the accumulation of bilirubin in the blood.
  3. Edema is the most severe and dangerous form, characterized by the accumulation of fluid in the cavities and tissues of the child.

The development of HDN is recorded during an ultrasound examination of the fetus:

  • the fetus in the "Buddha pose";
  • reduced motor activity;
  • swelling of the skin of the head and limbs;
  • increased echogenicity of the intestine;
  • the presence of fluid in abdominal cavity, chest;
  • heart enlargement, pericardial effusion;
  • placental hyperplasia.

Important! AB0-conflict often gives mild symptoms that do not require serious treatment. Severe forms of Rh incompatibility can result in serious fetal pathology and death.

Determination of antibody titer

Pregnant women with Rh- determine the presence of specific proteins at the initial visit to the gynecologist. Antibody titer is the ratio of serum dilution at which blood is able to cope with Rh-positive red blood cells. The amount of antibodies may change (increase/decrease) during pregnancy. The amount of specific proteins is monitored once a month up to 28 weeks, then twice a month and every 7 days after 36 weeks.

It is not possible to predict the development of HDN in case of blood group incompatibility by the titer of specific proteins.

Non-detection of antibodies in the analysis.

If antibodies are not detected at the first analysis, Rh sensitization can be avoided by the administration of anti-Rhesus immunoglobulin. This drug stops the synthesis of antibodies in the mother's body.

Antibodies are found.

In this case, their identification is important. Only the presence of IgG can cause fetal hemolytic pathology. The degree of risk of developing HDN depends on the indicator:

  • a titer of 1:4 indicates the beginning of the development of an immunological reaction, usually a similar ratio is observed during the first pregnancy;
  • caption 1:16 - indication for amniocentesis (puncture amniotic fluid and their studies to detect intrauterine pathology), in 10% of cases indicates a high risk of intrauterine death;
  • a titer of 1:64 or a 4-fold increase in its subsequent study requires early delivery.

The IgG titer in combination with the data of the anamnesis makes it possible to predict the development of HDN in 60%, and fetal ultrasound and amniocentesis increase the accuracy of diagnosis up to 90%.

The presence of antibodies in the mother does not mean the need to abandon the pregnancy. Early registration of a pregnant woman, a blood test for antibodies, regular ultrasound of the fetus and vaccination with immunoglobulin will help keep the pregnancy in due date give birth to a healthy child.

An antibody test during pregnancy reveals the presence of foreign microorganisms in a woman's blood. But it also acts as an indicator of the incompatibility of the fetus with the mother's body. It all depends on the type and amount of immunoglobulins found, for which certain antigens are responsible.

Deciphering the analysis provides information about the presence of an infection, helps to determine whether the body can fight the disease on its own or additional drugs are needed.

Why donate blood for antibodies during pregnancy

Antibodies (AT) belong to the immune system of the body and in case of ingestion of viruses, fungi, bacteria, perform a protective function. These are a kind of proteins formed from lymphocytes. When the immune system recognizes the entry of foreign microorganisms, there is an accelerated production of immunoglobulins.

Different types of antibodies belong to one of the 5 classes of immunoglobulins (lg): lgA, lgE, lgM, lgG, lgD. By their number, you can determine which infection is now in the body. Then pregnant women are prescribed an analysis for antibodies to TORCH infections.

Such a study reveals the following diseases:

  • rubella;
  • herpes;
  • toxoplasmosis;
  • cytomegalovirus.

But during pregnancy, immunoglobulins can recognize the embryo as a foreign body if there is Rhesus incompatibility between it and the mother. If previous gestations ended in miscarriages, before conception, an analysis is prescribed to detect antibodies to the partner's sperm.

Antibodies to the TORCH infection complex

Infections, determined by a blood test for AT, are dangerous not only for pregnant women, but also for the child. Expectant mothers are most at risk if the infection occurs in the 1st trimester. This can provoke spontaneous abortions, intrauterine fetal fading, developmental anomalies, and even sepsis. Therefore, it is recommended to conduct an immunoglobulin analysis before conception, so that in case of infection, it can be treated in time.

An excess of indicators or a negative level of immunoglobulins will show whether the body was familiar with the infection, when it was infected, and whether there is a danger to the baby.

The study is decoded as follows:

  • negative indicators of lgM and lgG show that certain infections are not familiar to the body, and the risk of infection with them is increased;
  • positive results showing the presence of lgM and lgG indicate a recent disease, which is dangerous for the fetus;
  • the same danger is borne by indicators where lgM is positive and lgG is negative, which means the infection was introduced during the gestation of the baby;
  • positive lgG and absence of lgM indicates infection before pregnancy, indicating no threat to the fetus.

When analyzing antibodies for TORCH infection, the absence of lgM is considered normal, but the presence of G antibodies. The presence of lgM always indicates the presence of infection, so the most common way to diagnose is to test for immunoglobulins of the lgM class.

If lgG has an insufficient level or it is not at all to the rubella virus, they are vaccinated. But if lgM is positive, vaccination is prohibited. After a successful vaccination, pregnancy is allowed only after 3 months.

If igg is positive, this indicates the presence of immunoglobulin to cytomegalovirus infection. A negative indicator indicates that the body has never been in contact with this infection.

If there are indications for a malfunction of the thyroid gland, autoimmune diseases, diabetes mellitus, and others, they are tested for antibodies to thyroglobulin.

In the case when there are no obvious disorders of the thyroid gland, a strong increase in AT to thyroperoxidase (TPO) can serve as a preliminary indicator.

Doctors consider each result individually. If necessary, additional diagnostics or re-examination is carried out, treatment is prescribed.

Group and allogeneic antibodies

When a negative Rh factor (Rh) is detected in the mother, positive in the baby and the appearance of alloimmune anti-erythrocyte bodies, they speak of a Rh conflict. But during the first pregnancy, anti-D antibodies are not always produced in sufficient quantities to provoke an Rh conflict. Often this happens due to a violation of the integrity of the amniotic membrane. And with subsequent conceptions, the likelihood of developing anti-Rhesus antibodies is high and can lead to the death of the baby.,

The ABO conflict develops even during the first gestation, if the baby's blood, which is incompatible with the mother's, enters the woman's bloodstream in large quantities. In this case, antigroup antibodies are produced. The pathology does not carry serious consequences, but regular monitoring is necessary to exclude complications.

Factors that can provoke the development of a group or Rhesus conflict:

  • termination of pregnancy in the later stages;
  • miscarriage of a child;
  • transfusion of incompatible blood group;
  • complex previous births;
  • detachment of the placenta;
  • ectopic pregnancy if the embryo has an incompatible Rh.

Today, there is an effective prevention to prevent the serious consequences of the Rhesus conflict. Rh-negative women after the end of the first pregnancy reduce the titer level with Anti-D gamma globulin.

During the period of bearing a child, immunoglobulin is constantly monitored, and if its level rises, the drug is administered several times according to a specially designed scheme. There is no cure for group conflict.

Antiphospholipid antibodies

Phospholipids, being in the cell membrane, nervous tissue and blood vessels, play a significant role in hemostasis - maintaining the blood in a liquid state and its coagulability at the time of violation of the integrity of the vessels.

With autoimmune aggression in pregnant women, the amount of antibodies to phospholipids increases, which leads to the antiphospholipid syndrome.

This syndrome is divided into two types:

  1. Primary - often asymptomatic, does not require treatment.
  2. Secondary - carries a significant danger to the mother and baby, can not do without treatment.

The development of APS disrupts blood circulation in the placenta, which leads to oxygen starvation of the fetus and can provoke miscarriage or intrauterine diseases.

Therefore, women are subject to a more thorough examination for the detection of antibodies to phospholipids:

  • previously had miscarriage;
  • with previous obstetric pathologies;
  • who have diseases of the cardiovascular system;
  • suffering from headaches;
  • with a low level of platelets;
  • with kidney and liver problems.

It is better to be examined in advance and undergo a course of treatment or take preventive measures before conception. This will prevent possible complications. If there are indications for the study, it is performed more often in the first trimester.

When passing tests, the presence of antibodies to phosphatidylserine, as well as cardiolipin, is checked. When drawing up a general picture of the situation, not only a high titer, even if it is elevated, but also clinical indications are taken into account.

To exclude the influence of various external factors, a second study is prescribed. If the diagnosis of APS is established, anti-clotting drugs are prescribed.

Preparation for the procedure

Be sure to check Rh-negative pregnant women. The procedure is carried out three times: the first time is done in the 1st trimester, and the second and third - in the 2nd trimester.

If the parents have different Rh, it is necessary to donate blood for the Rh conflict every month up to 32 weeks.

  • fatty;
  • roast;
  • sweet;
  • acute;
  • carbonated drinks;
  • coffee.

If any physiotherapy procedures were performed, they are excluded the day before the study. Taking medications can also affect the result, so the doctor must know what medications the patient is currently being treated with.

Pass the analysis in the morning on an empty stomach. Blood is taken from a vein located in the area of ​​​​the elbow joint.

How to take a blood test for antibodies during pregnancy

You can make a study of immunoglobulin indicators in any laboratory for a very short term. For example, in the Independent Laboratory INVITRO, they check not only anti-Rhesus immunoglobulin, but also detect antibodies to other erythrocyte antigens.

How long the immunoglobulin study takes depends on the laboratory. Basically it is 2 - 3 days. Urgent analysis by some laboratories can be provided within one day.

All studies are carried out on initial stage pregnancy. Mothers with a negative Rh or those with pathologies are at risk. internal organs, miscarriage and problematic childbirth in the past.

If an infection is detected, they can re-diagnose to clarify the diagnosis. If there is a risk of Rh-conflict, the observation is carried out once a month. Particularly alarming is the increase in titer with Rhesus incompatibility. In this case, the study can be carried out weekly. Additionally, ultrasound is prescribed to prevent complications. The analysis is done before the onset labor activity, but more often carry out early delivery.

Deciphering the results

For the convenience of deciphering the data, all indicators are recorded in the form in the form of a table. Each AT group has its own indicators, which are considered normal. For example, if the concentration of lgA is 0.35-3.55 g / l, this is the norm. For lgG normal level– 7.8–18.5 g/l, and for lgM – 0.8–2.9 g/l.

When checking antibodies to phospholipids, their number should not exceed 10 U / ml. AT values ​​for thyroglobulin should be less than 4.1 IU / ml.

If, during the study of the Rhesus conflict, the titer is higher than it should be, this adversely affects the health of the fetus. In such situations, abortion is sometimes performed. A titer less than 1:4 is conventionally considered the norm, if it is higher, constant monitoring is necessary. With a titer of 1:16, the likelihood of the death of the baby increases. To avoid this, an amniocentesis is performed - the collection of amniotic fluid to detect congenital diseases. But it is allowed to do this after the 26th week of pregnancy.

Sometimes, if the titer at 16–18 weeks of gestation is higher than 1:128, it is impossible to notice on ultrasound how much the fetus suffers. Then doctors recommend that patients undergo regular examinations, and especially carefully monitor the condition of the child after 20 weeks.

And with the results of a titer of 1:256 and above, at 34–35 weeks, early delivery is carried out so that the fetus does not suffer.

It is especially dangerous if the titer is kept within 1:1024 or more, but if the antibodies have not penetrated into the child's bloodstream, the pathology will not develop.

What is dangerous deviation from the norm - possible consequences for the fetus

With a Rh conflict, the baby is threatened by a violation of blood metabolism and a lack of oxygen, which often leads to the following diseases:

  • hepatitis;
  • anemia;
  • impaired development of the brain and cardiovascular system;
  • enlargement of the liver, spleen.

With signs of hemolytic disease in a child, an immediate blood transfusion is done from the mother. However, it is worth noting that it is possible to identify it in the early stages only by passing an analysis for antibodies. By external signs, it is impossible to detect the disease, and an ultrasound scan shows only a progressive, advanced stage.

If immunoglobulins for certain infections are seen, this can cause serious consequences:

  1. The appearance of antibodies to toxoplasmosis at the beginning of the gestation period after conception, it threatens to infect the fetus with this disease, which will lead to impaired development of the liver, spleen and central nervous system. In order to avoid undesirable consequences, abortion is done. In the 3rd trimester, the risk of infection of the baby is reduced to 70%.
  2. When detecting antibodies to rubella on the early term offer to have an abortion, because there is a risk of damage to the heart, eye and nerve tissues. At a later date, no dangerous consequences were found, but a lag in the development of the baby was noticed.
  3. Cytomegalovirus infection leads to fetal death or to congenital diseases of the brain and internal organs.
  4. Increasing the level of TPO may signal the development of hyperthyroidism or lead to postpartum thyroiditis.
  5. Increased levels of antiphospholipid antibodies indicates the likelihood of developing immune aggression. Antiphospholipid syndrome leads to spontaneous miscarriage or intrauterine pathologies due to impaired blood exchange in the placenta.

Blood test for antibodies during pregnancy. What are antibodies? Why and how to take an antibody test? Norms for indicators and decoding in an accessible language.

Blood test for antibodies during pregnancy.

Antibodies are special proteins. They are produced by cells that are present in our blood - lymphocytes.

Lymphocytes fight foreign microorganisms. When a bacterium enters the body, a person's temperature rises, an inflammatory process begins - this is a consequence of the struggle of antibodies with foreign bodies. The immune system remembers this bacterium and identifies it the next time it appears, instructing the body to block the danger with redoubled energy. Antibodies multiply faster, that is, the reaction of an antigen to a pathogenic bacterium or virus increases each time.

As a result, the body acquires immunity to certain types of diseases. The body of a pregnant woman is prone to various diseases, due to which complications may arise during the development of the fetus. That's why you need an analysis for the presence of antibodies in the blood. Based on the results of the analysis, the doctor determines whether additional treatment should be prescribed or the body is able to cope on its own.

How to take an antibody test

You should be aware that this analysis must be approached responsibly to obtain the most accurate results. The reliability of the results is the key to an accurate diagnosis of the disease and, accordingly, the correct treatment.

Below is a reminder, with its help you can qualitatively prepare for the analysis:

  • The analysis must be taken early in the morning on an empty stomach.
  • You need a few days (two or three) to limit yourself in food: take only lean food, get rid of the use of alcoholic substances, exclude carbonated drinks and coffee from the diet.
  • The result of the analysis will be inaccurate if the patient has recently taken medications for the treatment of any disease. In this case, the analysis should be postponed.
  • It is also recommended to postpone the analysis after a recent course of physiotherapy.
  • Most complete picture It turns out when the analysis is given at the first symptoms of the manifestation of the disease.

Antibody analysis is crucial in the process of diagnosing pregnancy, it is a mandatory point of a holistic approach to identifying the causes of diseases and drawing up an effective treatment plan. The blood sampling procedure is carried out by a professional specialist in a stationary laboratory. The patient comes to take the test early in the morning, on an empty stomach. The specialist puts a tourniquet on the cubital vein, and discomfort may occur, but not for long.

Antibodies during pregnancy to TORCH infections

TORCH is an abbreviation formed by the names of diseases in Latin:

  • TO, toxolasmosis;
  • R - rubella;
  • C - cytomegalovirus infection;
  • H - herpes.

Each of these infections poses a great danger to the embryo. Torch infections provoke deformities of the fetus, can cause pathologies in the development of both the whole fetus and its various organs and systems separately. In addition, there is a danger of having a premature baby and even the risk of miscarriage. It is advisable to take an analysis for the Torch-complex in the period before pregnancy.

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When registering pregnancy, tests, terms

Test results. Decryption

There are norms for the content of various antibodies in human blood:

  • lgA level - 0.35-3.55 g/l
  • lgG level - 7.8-18.5 g / l
  • lgM level - 0.8-2.9 g/l

In the blood of the expectant mother, there may be antibodies of classes M and G (i.e., the result of the analysis is positive). This means that the infection was present in the mother's body during or before pregnancy. In this case, there is a threat to the embryo, so it is necessary to take other tests and be examined again.

The detection of antibodies only of the G-class indicates that the woman became infected with the infection even before pregnancy, she has immunity against these infections, respectively, the fetus is safe.

The detection of M-antibodies signals the acute phase of the infection.

If there are no antibodies of either M or G-class in the body, it means that the body is not protected from infection and is at high risk of infection. In this case, the analysis must be taken every month.

Rhesus conflict. Credits.

When the child has a positive Rh factor, and the mother has a negative one, then in the process of the appearance of antibodies in the child's blood, an Rh conflict develops. Various diseases can result from the Rh conflict, such as: anemia, hemolytic disease, jaundice. Also, due to the Rh-conflict of a woman and a child, due to insufficient oxygen supply during pregnancy, pathologies of the heart and brain develop.

In order to minimize the danger to the embryo, during pregnancy, the antibody titer is regularly monitored, that is, the amount of antibodies in 1 ml of solution.

Analysis for group antibodies

In the process of bearing a child, doctors may prescribe an analysis for group antibodies. Many women know what problems a Rh conflict can cause, but another problematic situation also happens when the father and mother have different blood types. When carrying a child, so-called group antibodies are produced. There are four blood types: O (1), A (2), B (3), or AB (4).

The most alarming case is when the pregnant woman has group O, and the fetus has group A or B. However, you should not worry too much about this. Group antibodies do not cause significant complications and do not pose a particular danger to the mother and child.

After 30 weeks, women whose pregnancy status is of concern should be tested for group antibodies every 30 days.

Pregnancy planning is an important and crucial moment that requires all kinds of examinations to reduce the risk of complications during gestation and childbirth. A blood test for antibodies during pregnancy is just such a diagnostic method. Before conception, it is important to determine the presence of other TORCH infections, to clarify the blood groups and Rh factors of the spouses. The results will determine the need for activities aimed at normal growth and development of the baby.

Antibodies to TORCH infections

This group of diseases includes:

  • rubella;
  • cytomegalovirus;
  • herpetic infection;
  • toxoplasmosis.

These infections are especially dangerous during the period of bearing a baby. Infection of a woman in the first trimester leads to congenital deformities, developmental anomalies and spontaneous abortions. Experts recommend taking a blood test for antibodies during pregnancy during the first 12 weeks, and preferably even during the planning period.

Infection with herpes simplex can lead to polyhydramnios, the development of intrauterine infection, and prematurity. If a woman becomes infected for the first time, then the risk that the baby will become infected reaches 50%.

Infection with toxoplasmosis is most dangerous for a baby in the third trimester. If the mother fell ill in the first and second, the risk of the disease in the child reaches 25%, in the third - up to 90%. Rubella infection during the first 4 months of intrauterine life leads to fetal death, the development of macro- or microcephaly, the appearance of the Gregg triad.

Cytomegalovirus is dangerous by damage to the brain of a child, the development of cerebral palsy, pathologies of the auditory and visual analyzer.

An antibody blood test during pregnancy assesses the quantitative indicators of immunoglobulins G and M. These are the most important diagnostic criteria.

Decryption

During the period of bearing a child, the results of the study can be in the form of the following options:

  1. IgG and IgM were not found. This means that the mother has never met with such infections, which means that infection can occur during the period of bearing the baby. Research is repeated every month.
  2. IgG and IgM are found. The result indicates a recent case of infection. It is necessary to conduct an additional blood test for antibody titers during pregnancy.
  3. IgG detected, IgM not detected. This is a good option for both mother and child. He speaks of a long-term infection.
  4. IgG not detected, IgM detected. It indicates a recent infection and requires additional diagnostic manipulations.

It is not the laboratory assistant who deals with the interpretation of the result, but the specialist who sent the woman for examination. Based on the indicators, a further scheme for conducting pregnancy is determined.

Allogeneic antibodies

This type of antibody appears in the Rh-conflict of mother and child. A specific antigen, the Rh factor, can be found on human erythrocytes. If it exists, such blood is called Rh-positive, in the absence - Rh-negative.

If a woman does not have a Rh factor, and the child inherited it from her father, the mother's body perceives the baby's Rh factor as a foreign body and produces antibodies against the child's red blood cells. During the first pregnancy, such a process is just beginning and most often does not entail serious consequences, but during subsequent gestations it manifests itself more aggressively. Thus, the Rhesus conflict develops.

The primary response of the mother's body is manifested by the production of IgM. They have a large molecular weight, which means they cannot penetrate the placental barrier. Secondary sensitization takes place in the form of the production of a significant amount of low molecular weight IgG, which are able to penetrate the fetal body.

Diagnosis of Rhesus conflict

A blood test for Rh antibodies during pregnancy has the following features:

  1. If the spouses are Rh-negative, the diagnosis is not necessary.
  2. If the mother is Rh-negative, and the father has Rh-positive blood, the determination of the Rh antibody titer should occur in dynamics throughout the pregnancy (monthly).
  3. Awareness of previous antibody titers will determine the presence of sensitization of the organism.
  4. IgM is not dangerous for the baby, and the presence of IgG indicates the need to clarify the titer indicators and constantly carefully monitor the course of pregnancy.

Risk factors and possible complications

The high-risk group for the development of the Rh conflict includes women with a history of late induced abortions, blood transfusions, recurrent miscarriage, pathological births and ectopic pregnancies.

As a result of the severe course of the conflict, hemolytic disease of the newborn develops, which is accompanied by the following complications:

  • the birth of a dead baby;
  • encephalopathy;
  • hypertrophy of the liver and spleen;
  • nuclear jaundice;
  • delay in normal development;
  • liver failure.

Exist in the development of Rhesus conflict. In the absence of the Rh factor in a woman during her first pregnancy, anti-D gamma globulin is administered to her. A blood test for antibodies during pregnancy is carried out at each subsequent episode of gestation, determining the titer indicators. The norm does not require additional administration of gamma globulin; with elevated rates, it is administered several times according to a certain scheme.

Group antibodies

Few people know that the problem can be not only the difference in Rh factors, but also different blood types of the spouses. less aggressive towards the child than Rhesus incompatibility. There are no preventive measures to prevent the development of such a condition.

A blood test for group antibodies during pregnancy is required in the following cases:

  • miscarriage;
  • pathological childbirth in history;
  • development of placental abruption during previous pregnancies and childbirth;
  • blood transfusion;
  • history of abortion.

Antiphospholipid antibodies

Phospholipids are called fats that are part of the membranes of body cells. A person cannot produce them on his own, but he can also do without them. These substances are a structural material, participate in blood clotting, restore damaged cell walls, and support the functioning of the nervous system.

When it appears during pregnancy, the destruction of fats and the development of antiphospholipid syndrome occur. The primary syndrome has an asymptomatic course, the body recovers quickly. Secondary is more aggressive and is fraught with the development of thrombosis. As a result, the risk of heart attack, thromboembolism, stroke, damage to the main vessels increases.

For pregnant women, the development of APS is accompanied by a high risk of:

  • miscarriages;
  • stillbirth;
  • fetal hypoxia;
  • congenital anomalies;
  • premature detachment of the placenta.

Features of diagnostics

A blood test for antibodies during pregnancy, the decoding of which is carried out by the doctor leading the woman, is considered mandatory in the following cases:

  • habitual miscarriage;
  • the presence of diseases of the cardiovascular system;
  • persistent headache;
  • thrombocytopenia;
  • the presence of renal or hepatic pathology.

Blood is taken to determine the indicators of antibodies to cardiolipin and phosphatidylserine. A significant amount of antibodies is not a direct confirmation of the development of APS. The doctor takes into account the brightness of clinical signs and anamnesis data. A high titer indicates the need to prescribe antiplatelet agents (drugs that stop the processes of thrombosis).

How to take a blood test for antibodies during pregnancy

In order for the diagnostic results to be correct, it is necessary to properly prepare for the sampling of the material. For 2-3 days, give up drinks containing caffeine, soda, spicy, fried, pickled foods. Take a blood test for antibodies during pregnancy on an empty stomach.

If possible, you should stop taking medications. If this is not possible, inform the laboratory which means are being used. Hyperthermia and the period after significant physical activity are contraindications for diagnostic testing.

After receiving the results, the obstetrician-gynecologist who leads the pregnant woman is engaged in their decoding. Evaluation of indicators determines the need for additional studies and correction. Any self-treatment and unprofessional interpretation of the results are not allowed, as they can cost the life of the mother and her unborn baby.

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