Effects of modified Bushen Huoxue Prescription combined with active immuno-therapy on immunomodulatory functions and pregnancy outcomes of patients with unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion

Recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) is a common pregnancy disease mostly occurring in the first trimester of pregnancy, and unexplained RSA (URSA) occurs in approximately 40% of RSA patients even after careful examination. Here, we assessed the effects of modified Bushen Huoxue Prescription combined with active immunotherapy on immunomodulatory functions and pregnancy outcomes of URSA patients. Ninety-six eligible URSA patients were randomly divided into control and experimental groups (n=48). Active immunotherapy was performed for control group, while experimental group were treated with modified Bushen Huoxue Prescription combined with active immunotherapy. Counts of peripheral blood helper T lymphocytes 17 (Th17) and regulatory T lymphocytes (Treg), levels of inflammatory factors interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-10 and IL-17, and mRNA expression levels of retinoic acid-related orphan receptor & gamma;t (ROR & gamma;t) and forkhead box P3 (FoxP3) were compared. Compared with before treatment, ratios of Th17/CD4+ cells and Th17/Treg, IL-17 level and ROR & gamma;t mRNA level decreased, whereas ratio of Treg/CD4+ cells, IL-4 and IL-10 levels and FoxP3 mRNA level increased in both groups after treatment (P<0.05). After treatment, ratios of Th17/CD4+ cells and Th17/Treg, IL-17 level and ROR & gamma;t mRNA level were lower in experimental group than those in control group, while ratio of Treg/CD4+ cells, IL-4, IL-10 levels and FoxP3 mRNA level were higher in experimental group (P<0.05). Modified Bushen Huoxue Prescription combined with active immunotherapy worked well for URSA to improve pregnancy outcomes and lower abortion rate.