Immunological similarities between implantation and pre-eclampsia

PROBLEM: Cytokines are involved in implantation success and failure. We envisage that they could be similarly involved in pre-eclampsia (PE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: First, we review the primipaternity and primiparity concepts and then why natural killer (NK) cells are involved in implantation. We stress that the common event in all PE is vascular remodelling. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: We conclude that PE could involve cytokine and/or NK dysfunctions, and propose a working hypothesis.