The Immunology of Human Pregnancy / Edition 1

by Henry N. Claman

Overview

The relationship between a mother and her fetus is a unique symbiotic union, and immunological problems in one will most likely affect the other. The question of the immunology of fetal survival-which seems a profound paradox-has thus become one of great importance to biologists and physicians in all specialties.

In The Immunology of Human Pregnancy, the distinguished physician and immunologist Henry N. Claman surveys the complexly intertwined fields of immunology and obstetrics/perinatal medicine, successfully developing a state-of-the-art synthesis that will help clarify the subject for every reader. This integrated, single volume explores in depth such fundamental issues as: The immunological interactions between mother and fetus. • The "immunological paradox of pregnancy"-Why doesn't the mother reject the fetus, half of whose genes are foreign? • The question of immunological competence in the mother during pregnancy. • What effects do maternal autoimmunity have on the fetus? • What effect does pregnancy itself have on autoimmune disease? • The immunological basis of spontaneous abortion and possible immunization for treating this condition.

Comprehensive, thoroughly up-to-date, and unified in approach, Henry N. Claman's authoritative and long-awaited treatment of The Immunology of Human Pregnancy is a stimulating and insightful book for all clinicians and researchers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780896032514
Publisher:	Springer-Verlag New York, LLC
Publication date:	01/29/1993
Series:	Contemporary Biomedicine Series
Edition description:	1993
Pages:	219
Product dimensions:	5.98(w) x 9.02(h) x 0.35(d)

Table of Contents

1 The Immune System.- 2 Materno-Fetal Relationships: Immunological Aspects.- 3 Maternal Immunocompetence During Pregnancy.- 4 Maternal Immune Responses to Fetal Antigens.- 5 Maternal Immune Responses Affecting Pregnancy and the Fetus.- 6 Recurrent Pregnancy Loss: Immunologic and Nonimmunologic Aspects.- Epilogue: The Answers?.

Editorial Reviews

Explores the unique symbiotic union between mother and fetus and the immunological paradox of pregnancy: Why doesn't the mother's immune system reject the fetus? A book primarily for clinicians, it avoids any discussion of the immunologic basis for sterility to focus on pathogenesis during pregnancy. Research on maternal immunocompetence is carefully reviewed to discern some viable explanation for the pregnancy paradox. A fascinating discussion of both pregnancy and immunology. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews

...the writing is superb...the most complex immunologic processes are presented in easy-to-folow diagrams...clinicians who deal with women trying to have babies, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and medical residents desiring a basic knowledge of pregnancy immunology would find this book a valuable asset.-The New England Journal of Medicine

From the Publisher