T regulatory cells are an important new marker in reproductive immunology.  We have found our new T regulatory assay to be particularly useful in patients who have suffered chromosomally normal losses and also have normal NK and TH1/TH2 results.  Most of these patients were found to have low levels of T regulatory cells.  We have found that low numbers of T regulatory cells around the time of implantation identify women who are destined to lose their pregnancies.  We have seen where rapid immunotherapeutic intervention appears to have salvaged these pregnancies. 

The Laboratory for Reproductive Medicine and Immunology (LRMI) has developed a blood test for T regulatory cells that has been clinically validated for specific use in reproductive immunology.  Values above 0.7% have been associated with women who go on to have normal pregnancies.  Women with values of 0.4% and below have a high pregnancy loss rate at the time of implantation.

In addition to studies now being conducted at the Laboratory for Reproductive Medicine and Immunology, investigators throughout the world have found that low levels of T regulatory cells are associated with the following reproductive issues:

-infertility
-recurrent implantation failure
-recurrent miscarriage
-fetal growth retardation
-pre-eclampsia
-premature rupture of the membranes (PROM) 
-preterm labor 

The blood test provided by LRMI has become an important additional clinical measurement particularly in patients who do not have abnormalities in other immunologic blood tests. 

For more information about the discovery of the regulatory T cell, see: Development of the T regulatory cell.   Also see: T regulatory cell studies.