Pregnancy outcome in patients with a history of recurrent spontaneous miscarriages and documented thrombophilias

Gynecol Obstet Invest. 2004;57(3):127-31. doi: 10.1159/000075702. Epub 2003 Dec 23.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of treatment in patients analyzed for recurrent spontaneous miscarriage with a diagnosis of a hereditary thrombophilia, the presence of antiphospholipid and/or autoimmune antibodies, and/or hyperhomocystinemia (HHC) with or without methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) polymorphisms. In total, 76 women with 2 or more embryonic or fetal losses were analyzed. Of these, 49 (64.4%) women were found to have one or more thrombophilias and/or autoimmune antibodies, and 33 (43.4%) women were found to have a MTHFR polymorphism and/or HHC. Since completion of the recurrent miscarriage analysis, 39 women conceived again. All women with a thrombophilia were treated with low-dose aspirin plus low molecular weight heparin. All women with previously diagnosed HHC and/or MTHFR polymorphisms were treated with folate and vitamin B(6) and B(12) supplementation. In the thrombophilia group, 27 women conceived resulting in 20 successful pregnancies (74.1%) and 7 pregnancy losses (2 trisomy 16, 1 ectopic pregnancy and 4 unexplained miscarriages), i.e. an unexplained pregnancy loss rate of 14.8%. In the HHC/MTHFR group 22 women conceived, resulting in 17 successful pregnancies (77.3%) and 5 pregnancy losses (1 trisomy 16, 1 Turner syndrome and 3 unexplained miscarriages), i.e. an unexplained pregnancy loss rate of 13.6%.

MeSH terms

  • Abortion, Habitual / complications*
  • Abortion, Habitual / genetics
  • Abortion, Habitual / prevention & control
  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Antiphospholipid / blood
  • Aspirin / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Folic Acid / therapeutic use
  • Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Hyperhomocysteinemia / complications
  • Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) / genetics
  • Middle Aged
  • Polymorphism, Genetic
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic*
  • Pregnancy Outcome*
  • Thrombophilia / complications*
  • Thrombophilia / drug therapy
  • Thrombophilia / genetics
  • Vitamin B 12 / therapeutic use
  • Vitamin B 6 / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Antibodies, Antiphospholipid
  • Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight
  • Vitamin B 6
  • Folic Acid
  • Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2)
  • Vitamin B 12
  • Aspirin