Immunogenetic factors in preeclampsia and eclampsia. Erythrocyte, histocompatibility, and Y-dependent antigens.

Determination of ABO and HL-A antigens and sex ratio of infants born to 46 women with preeclampsia or eclampsia, in comparison with normal controls, disclosed no predominant blood group, HL-A haplotype, or qualitative difference in maternal-fetal incompatibility. These results suggest that a link between immunologic mechanisms and the pathogenesis of toxemia syndromes, if present at all, must be associated with feto-placental tissue-specific antigens.