Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), including preeclampsia (PE) and gestational hypertension (GH), are major causes of maternal and foetal morbidity and mortality. This review elucidates the role of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the immunological aspects of HDP and explores their therapeutic potential. Tregs, which play a critical role in maintaining immune homeostasis, are crucial in pregnancy to prevent immune-mediated rejection of the foetus. The review highlights that Tregs contribute to immunological adaptation in normal pregnancy, ensuring foetal acceptance. In contrast, HDP is associated with Treg dysfunction, which is marked by decreased numbers and impaired regulatory capacity, leading to inadequate immune tolerance and abnormal placental development. This dysfunction is particularly evident in PE, in which Tregs fail to adequately modulate the maternal immune response against foetal antigens, contributing to the pathophysiology of the disorder. Therapeutic interventions aiming to modulate Treg activity represent a promising avenue for HDP management. Studies in animal models and limited clinical trials suggest that enhancing Treg functionality could mitigate HDP symptoms and improve pregnancy outcomes. However, given the multifactorial nature of HDP and the intricate regulatory mechanisms of Tregs, the review explores the complexities of translating in vitro and animal model findings into effective clinical therapies. In conclusion, while the precise role of Tregs in HDP is still being unravelled, their central role in immune regulation during pregnancy is indisputable. Further research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms by which Tregs contribute to HDP and to develop targeted therapies that can safely and effectively harness their regulatory potential for treating hypertensive diseases of pregnancy.

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), including preeclampsia (PE) and gestational hypertension (GH), are major causes of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. This review elucidates the role of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the immunological aspects of HDP and explores their therapeutic potential. Tregs, known for maintaining immune tolerance, are crucial in pregnancy to prevent immune-mediated rejection of the fetus. In HDP, Treg numbers and function imbalance are observed, correlating with disease severity. The review highlights that Tregs contribute to immunological adaptation in normal pregnancy, ensuring fetal acceptance and placental development. In contrast, HDP is associated with Treg dysfunction, marked by decreased numbers and impaired regulatory capacity, leading to inadequate immune tolerance and abnormal placental development. This dysfunction is particularly evident in PE, where Tregs fail to adequately modulate the maternal immune response against fetal antigens, contributing to the pathophysiology of the disorder. Therapeutic interventions aiming to modulate Treg activity represent a promising avenue for HDP management. Studies in animal models and limited clinical trials suggest that enhancing Treg functionality could mitigate HDP symptoms and improve pregnancy outcomes. However, the review acknowledges the complexity of translating these findings into effective clinical therapies, given the multifactorial nature of HDP and the intricate regulatory mechanisms of Tregs. In conclusion, while the precise role of Tregs in HDP is still being unravelled, their central role in immune regulation during pregnancy is indisputable. Further research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms by which Tregs contribute to HDP and to develop targeted therapies that can safely and effectively harness their regulatory potential for treating hypertensive diseases of pregnancy.

Objectives: Haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN) occurs due to maternal IgG alloantibodies that actively cross the placenta and bind to paternally derived fetal antigens on the erythrocytes. The aims of this study were to describe the Slovenian cohort of patients with severe HDFN, who required fetal treatment, to review the fetal treatment strategies, and to describe pregnancy and neurodevelopmental outcomes. Case series presentation: Data on patients who developed severe HDFN between 2006 and 2021 and were treated at our institution were collected retrospectively. Primary care pediatricians were contacted regarding neurodevelopmental outcomes of surviving infants. There were 19 pregnancies affected with severe HDFN. The most commonly implicated antigen was RhD. Seventeen children were liveborn. Sixteen fetuses were treated with intrauterine transfusion (IUT). Two children had developmental delay at the corrected age of 2 years. Conclusions: In this study, the Slovenian national cohort of severe cases of HDFN is described for the first time. Prevalence of RhD alloimmunization was higher in comparison to the literature. A combined treatment with therapeutic plasmapheresis, immunoglobulins and IUT was successful. Three quarters of newborns were born in the late preterm period. Overall survival rate and long-term neonatal adverse outcomes in our cohort were in line with the literature.

This prospective cohort study assessed the SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgA Ab profiles at delivery and 42 d postpartum in unvaccinated SARS-CoV-2–positive pregnant women and determined the association with the timing and the clinical course of the infection. A total of 387 vaccine-naive women with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy were included. IgG and IgA Abs were detected in maternal blood at delivery and 42 d postpartum using ELISA kits. The relationships between Ab detection and value and clinical features, including the timing of the infection, were analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic and linear regression models. The mean gestational age at infection was 31 4/7 wk of pregnancy. Symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection were present in 88.1% of women. IgG and IgA Abs were detected in 45.7 and 58.9% at delivery, respectively, increasing to 72.7 and 76.8% at 42 d postpartum. Detection of IgG and IgA Abs in maternal blood at delivery was independently associated with symptomatic infection (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 3.13, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.47–6.69 and adjusted OR 3.62, 95% CI: 1.8–7.26, respectively), but not with the time from positive swab to delivery or gestational age at positive swab. Detection of Abs at 42 d postpartum was also strongly associated with the detection of Abs at delivery (OR 29.97, 95% CI: 10.11–88.82 for IgG and OR 13.09, 95% CI: 6.37–26.9 for IgA). Vaccine-naive pregnant women exhibit a significant and durable immune response to SARS-CoV-2, which is more pronounced in symptomatic women but independent of gestational age at diagnosis or the diagnosis-to-delivery interval.

Decembra 2019 se je v Wuhanu na Kitajskem pojavil novi sev koronavirusa SARS-CoV-2, ki povzroča bolezen covid-19. Ta se kaže s simptomi in znaki prizadetosti zgornjih dihal: s kašljem, dispnejo, povišano telesno temperaturo, prisotne pa so lahko bolečine v mišicah, prebavne težave, izguba vonja in okusa. Znanje, pridobljeno na podlagi izbruhov ostalih človeških koronavirusov (angl. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus - SARS-CoV in Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus - MERS-CoV), uvršča nosečnice in njihove plodove v ranljivo skupino, vendar pa trenutno velja, da nosečnice niso bolj ogrožene za težak potek bolezni covid-19. Po razglasitvi pandemije so sledili ostri ukrepi, katerih cilj je bil omejiti širjenje virusa. Zato se je življenje na vseh področjih korenito spremenilo. Tudi delovanje bolnišnic se je moralo prilagoditi na obstoječe razmere. V Porodnišnici Ljubljana smo se po razglasitvi pandemije covida-19 zavedali, da bo treba za optimalno oskrbo vseh nosečnic oblikovati smernice oz. kliničnih poti za vse zaposlene. Zaradi narave dela obsega dejavnosti ni bilo mogoče bistveno zmanjšati, zato smo se na sprejem morebitno ali potrjeno okuženih nosečnic morali pripraviti v izjemno kratkem času. Porodnišnico smo razdelili na tri območja po zgledu urgentnega bloka Univerzitetnega kliničnega centra Ljubljana: belo območje za zdrave nosečnice, sivo območje za nosečnice, pri katerih smo sumili na okužbo s SARS-CoV-2, vendar ta še ni bila potrjena, in rdeče območje, kjer smo obravnavali dokazano pozitivne nosečnice. Do konca maja 2020 sta v Ljubljanski porodnišnici rodili dve porodnici z dokazano okužbo z virusom SARS-CoV-2 in tri porodnice po preboleli okužbi z virusom SARS-CoV-2. Nobena od njih ni imela hujših simptomov bolezni covid-19, zato tudi intenzivno zdravljenje ni bilo potrebno.

Objectives: Understanding the clinical factors influencing the SARS-CoV-2 antibody response during and after pregnancy is critical for optimizing maternal care and vaccination strategies. This prospective cohort study aimed to evaluate associations between maternal clinical characteristics and SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG and IgA antibody levels at delivery and 42 days postpartum in unvaccinated pregnant women. Methods: A total of 387 pregnant women with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy were included. SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed using real-time RT-PCR. Clinical data, including age, body mass index (BMI), smoking status, pre-existing morbidities, and obstetric complications, were recorded. SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG and IgA antibodies were quantified using ELISA at delivery and 42 days postpartum. Results: Higher preconception BMI significantly correlated with increased odds of detecting IgG and IgA antibodies at both delivery and postpartum assessments (p<0.05), independently of maternal age and chronic diseases. Women without chronic systemic diseases exhibited lower antibody levels at delivery, whereas smokers had significantly lower odds of IgG antibody presence at delivery. Additionally, pre-existing cardiovascular diseases were associated with reduced antibody presence at six weeks postpartum. Other clinical parameters did not show significant associations. Conclusions: Preconception BMI and pre-existing systemic diseases may modulate SARS-CoV-2 antibody responses in pregnant women. These clinical factors should inform assessments of maternal and neonatal infection risks and guide vaccination strategies in pregnant populations. Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying these associations.