Did anyone else see this on the news?
Apparently they have developed a new drug which is supposed to help reduce the chance of miscarriage for women who have suffered multiple miscarriages. Apparently certain women produce more naturally occurring 'killer cells' which in turn produces more oxygen to the baby: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/science/article4720133.ece

My friend mentioned this but haven't seen anything yet!! xxx

I saw this on the news the other day and it sounded really positive Holly & Ethan xx

oh that sounds like a great move forward :) Hopefully lots of people will benefit

Having been to the private fertility clinic, they recommended I have a blood -*test*-('") for NKC (Natural Killer Cells). Having had 2 miscarriages I have now been -*test*-('")ed for this and am awaiting the results. The reason they don't do this -*test*-('") routinely is due to cost. At the clinic it would have cost me £250 but luckily my GP had heard of it and I had it done on the NHS. It is practically unknown in this country though, as the blood -*test*-('") people had to ring the lab to check which colour bottle to put it in. They had never heard of it. It is much more common in The States. If you have these cells, then it is easily treatable with steroids during the pregnancy. Kx

is it just for women who've never had a ful term pregnancy? i mean, clearly i've had abigail, so can carry to term, but have had three miscarriages, would someone like me qualify for this, or is it only childless women with history?

:update: Well, I may be getting to some answers at last. Normal levels of NK cells 16/56 (which are found in the uterus) for conception and pregnancy are below 12%- mine are 19%. This would mean that it could be hard for me to firstly get pg, secondly sustain one as my body will be trying to reject the embryo/fetus. <i>The fetus contains foreign genetic material coming from the father, but in normal circumstances it does not get rejected. However, in some women these NK cells may reject the fetus and cause a miscarriage either by being high in numbers or by abnormal hostile activity. • This problem, as most autoimmune disorders, can switch on and off, therefore some of the women may have one or more normal pregnancy outcomes as well as recurrent miscarriages. Women with CD16/56 NK cells in excess of 12% or 0.2 absolute number are at risk of miscarrying. NK cells • There is a special class of NK cells (CD16-, CD56+) in the placenta that promotes fetus survival. Opposing is another group of NK cells (CD16+, CD56+), if active are toxic to the placenta and hence may cause a miscarriage. The same cells secrete tumor necrosis factor (TNF) which can destroy the placenta. • Implantation of embryos into the mother's womb is a complex process involving several factors including the local systemic immune responses. Pregnancy may fail when these events are not well synchronized. This should answer your question, Tilly. So at least I'm armed with this information for when I start my treatment next week. Kx