Pregnancy Failure (pregnancy + failure)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Kinds of Pregnancy Failure

  • early pregnancy failure


  • Selected Abstracts


    Might Wasp Venom Desensitization Induced Th2 to Th1 Shift Cause Pregnancy Failure?

    AMERICAN JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 4 2002
    UDO R. MARKERT
    The case of a 28-year-old woman under wasp venom desensitization having a premature birth in her 24th week of pregnancy 16 days after the last injection is described. To test the hypothesis that a special profile of immune cells in the decidua may trigger abortions, placental and decidual tissue sections were stained with antibodies against T cells (CD3), cytotoxic cells (CD8), natural killer cells (CD56), and mast cells, and an in-situ-hybridization was performed for tumor necrosis factor-, (TNF-,). CD56+ Natural killer cells were the dominating population. In earlier analyses of healthy first trimester decidua the percentage of NK cells and T cells was in a similar range, but the CD8:CD3 ratio was only 2.2% in contrast to 27% in the present case. Mast cells, which are known to be able to secrete abortogenic TNF-,, were only detectable in the decidua (10 cells/mm2) and decidua sections were TNF-, positive. Since SIT induces a shift of the interleukin and functional profile from a Th2 type towards a Th1 type, and pregnancy is dependent on a Th2 pronounced profile, SIT may trigger abortions or immature births. This is supported by the present results and might have happened in this case. [source]


    Further observations on the empty "amnion sign"

    JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ULTRASOUND, Issue 3 2010
    N. Tugce Yegul MD
    Abstract Objective. To assess the positive predictive value of the empty "amnion sign" (visualization of an amnion without concomitant visualization of an embryo) for the diagnosis of early pregnancy failure. Methods. Retrospective study of 882 1st trimester sonographic examinations with abnormal findings among women who were threatening to abort. Eight hundred six met the inclusion criteria. Results. In the study cohort 286 (35.5%) had no identifiable embryo and 71 of those without an identifiable embryo had a visible amnion (24.8%). The breakdown of the mean sac diameter of the study cohort was as follows: those measuring less than 16 mm (n = 16); those measuring 16,20 mm (n = 20); those measuring 21 mm or more (n = 35). Sixty-eight of the 71 patients had adequate follow-up. Pregnancy failure was confirmed in all 68 patients (positive predictive value = 100%). Conclusions. The data from this study indicate that visualization of an amnion without concomitant visualization of an embryo (the empty "amnion sign") confirms pregnancy failure regardless of the mean sac diameter and with a sufficiently high positive predictive value to make a definitive diagnosis. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound, 2010 [source]


    Low levels of tissue factor rescue protein C-associated pregnancy failure in mice

    JOURNAL OF THROMBOSIS AND HAEMOSTASIS, Issue 10 2008
    A. J. LAY
    [source]


    Luteal Deficiency and Embryo Mortality in the Mare

    REPRODUCTION IN DOMESTIC ANIMALS, Issue 3-4 2001
    WR Allen
    Four separate components combine to produce the progesterone and biologically active 5,-reduced pregnanes needed to maintain pregnancy in the mare. The primary corpus luteum (CL) is prolonged beyond its cyclical lifespan by the down-regulation of endometrial oxytocin receptors to prevent activation of the luteolytic pathway and its waning progesterone production is supplemented from day 40 of gestation by the formation of a series of accessory CL which develop in the maternal ovaries as a result of the gonadotrophic actions of pituitary FSH and the equine chorionic gonadotrophin (eCG). From around day 100 the allantochorion secretes progesterone and progestagens directly to the endometrium and underlying myometrium and, in the last month of gestation, the enlarging foetal adrenal gland secretes appreciable quantities of pregnenelone which is also utilized by the placenta to synthesize progestagens. Between 10 and 15% of mares undergo foetal death and abortion at some time in gestation and the majority of these losses occur during the first 40 days of gestation when the primary CL is the sole source of progesterone. Yet, all the available evidence suggests that untoward luteolysis is not common in this period and the losses that do occur have other underlying causes. Beyond day 40 the secondary CL receive powerful luteotrophic support from eCG and from day 80,100 until term the supply organ (placenta) and target tissues (endometrium and myometrium) are in direct contact with each other over their entire surface. In the face of this interlocking and failsafe system for progestagen production throughout pregnancy, and despite a paucity of evidence that a deficiency of progesterone production is a cause of pregnancy loss in the mare, it is surprising, and worrying, that annually many thousands of pregnant mares throughout the world are given exogenous progestagen therapy during part or all of their gestation as a form of preventative insurance against the possibility of pregnancy failure. Basic investigative research is required urgently to validate or debunk the practice. [source]


    Stress and Pregnancy Loss: Role of Immune Mediators, Hormones and Neurotransmitters

    AMERICAN JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 2 2001
    Petra Clara Arck
    This review highlights recent studies investigating the impact of stress on pregnancy health or loss. Spontaneous abortion is the most common adverse pregnancy outcome, and stress has been suggested to be abortogenic in mice and humans. A wealth of information has been published on the effect of stress on the nervous, endocrine and immune systems during the past two decades. Stress- and/or pregnancy-related hormones (corticotropin releasing hormone, adrenocorticotropin, prolactin, and progesterone) might interact with peripheral and local immuncompetent cells, such as certain T cell subsets, mast cells or NK cells, and result in changes of cytokine production. Since a well-balanced interaction of nervous, endocrine and immune system is crucial for the maintenance of successful pregnancy, putative mechanisms and recent observations on stress-triggered pregnancy failure have been reviewed. [source]


    Anti-DNA Antibodies Cross-reacting with Laminin Inhibit Trophoblast Attachment and Migration: Implications for Recurrent Pregnancy Loss in SLE Patients

    AMERICAN JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 3 2000
    FAISAL QURESHI
    PROBLEM: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), an autoimmune disease, is associated with reduced fetal survival, recurrent abortions, and other pregnancy complications. Some of the autoantibodies found in SLE bind to laminins (LNs), which play an important role in the implantation of the fertilized ovum in humans. METHOD OF STUDY: To elucidate the role of these specific autoantibodies, chorionic villous explants from 6,7-week-old human placentas were established as organ cultures on laminin-1 (LN-1), collagen IV (CN-IV) or uncoated culture dishes. The cultures were then exposed to a mouse monoclonal anti-DNA/anti-LN-1 antibody, to human polyclonal lupus antibodies cross-reacting with LN-1, a function-blocking polyclonal antibody to LN-1, polyclonal antibodies to CN-IV, or IgG control. RESULTS: The explants attached to LN-1 and CN-IV, but not to uncoated culture dishes. LN-1 promoted migration of trophoblast, whereas CN-IV promoted migration of fibroblast-like cells. Trophoblast attachment and migration were abolished in a dose-dependent manner by all three antibodies to LN-1, but not by antibodies to CN-IV or IgG control. Furthermore, the effect of anti-LN antibodies was abolished by preincubating them with LN-1. CONCLUSIONS: These studies suggest that anti-DNA antibodies cross-reacting with LNs may play a role in early pregnancy failure in SLE patients by interfering with placental implantation. [source]


    Quality of life and acceptability of medical versus surgical management of early pregnancy failure,

    BJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 4 2008
    B Harwood
    Objective, This study compares quality of life (QOL) and acceptability of medical versus surgical treatment of early pregnancy failure (EPF). Design, A randomised clinical trial of treatment for EPF compared misoprostol vaginally versus vacuum aspiration (VA). Setting, A multisite trial at four US Urban University Hospitals. Population, A total of 652 women with an EPF were randomised to treatment. Methods, Participants completed a daily symptom diary and a questionnaire 2 weeks after treatment. Main outcome measures, The questionnaire assessment included subscales of the Short Form-36 Health Survey Revised for QOL and measures of wellbeing, recovery difficulties, and treatment acceptability. Results, The two groups did not differ in mean scores for QOL except bodily pain; medical treatment was associated with higher levels of bodily pain than VA (P < 0.001). Success of treatment was not related to QOL, but acceptability of the procedure was decreased for medical therapy if unsuccessful (P = 0.003). Type of treatment was not associated with differences in recovery, and the two groups reported similar acceptability except for cramping (P = 0.02), bleeding (P < 0.001), and symptom duration (P = 0.03). Conclusions, Despite reporting greater pain and lower acceptability of treatment-related symptoms, QOL and treatment acceptability were similar for medical and surgical treatment of EPF. Acceptability, but not QOL, was influenced by success or failure of medical management. [source]