Reduction in erythrocyte complement receptor 1 (CR1,CD35) and decay accelerating factor (DAF,CD55) during normal pregnancy

RBC-membrane CR1 has been assayed in pregnancy and at 48 h postpartum. It has been shown that RBC CR1 is reduced as pregnancy progresses, reaching a nadir in the third trimester and that it returns to levels approaching normal within 48 h postpartum. Further, there is a reduced expression of RBC decay accelerating factor (DAF) during pregnancy but no change in expression of RBC CD59. We Suggest that the reduction in RBC CR1 and DAF may reflect increased levels of circulating immune complexes and consequent increased complement activation in pregnancy.