Spontaneous Miscarriage (spontaneous + miscarriage)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Are Polymorphisms in the ACE and PAI-1 Genes Associated with Recurrent Spontaneous Miscarriages?

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 6 2009
Chelsi Goodman
Problem, To determine whether the ACE D/D genotype or the combination of PAI-1 4G/4G and ACE D/D genotypes may serve as a risk factor for recurrent pregnancy loss. Method of study, Buccal swabs were obtained from 120 women experiencing recurrent pregnancy loss and from 84 fertile control women. DNA was extracted from the buccal swab samples using the Qiagen DNA Mini Kit (Qiagen), followed by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). PCR products were analyzed for the ACE gene polymorphism, which consists of the insertion or deletion (I/D) of a 287-bp fragment in intron 16, and the PAI-1 4G/4G genotype. Results, No significant differences in specific ACE gene mutations were observed when patients experiencing recurrent miscarriage were compared with control women. When the frequencies of homozygous mutations for ACE D/D and PAI-I 4G/4G were compared between recurrent aborters and controls, again no significant differences in the prevalence of the combination of these gene mutations were noted. Conclusion, Homozygosity for the D allele of the ACE gene and the combination of the D/D genotype with two 4G alleles of the PAI-1 promoter gene are not associated with a significant increase in the risk of recurrent miscarriage. [source]


De Novo HLA Sensitization and Antibody Mediated Rejection Following Pregnancy in a Heart Transplant Recipient

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 1 2010
P. J. O'Boyle
Here we report a case wherein both donor-specific and third-party, paternal, HLA class II specific antibodies developed following a spontaneous miscarriage resulting in antibody-mediated rejection in a patient who had undergone an orthotopic cardiac transplant six years earlier. [source]


Immediate outcome of twin,twin transfusion syndrome following selective laser photocoagulation of communicating vessels at the NSW Fetal Therapy Centre

AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 2 2010
N. MERIKI
Objective:, To audit the outcome for laser photocoagulation for twin,twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) as managed by the New South Wales Fetal Therapy Centre (NSW FTC). Methods: A retrospective cohort study. Outcome data were reviewed for referrals between June 2003 and June 2008. The outcome measures included the severity of TTTS at presentation, delivery details (gestational age at delivery, birth weight and Apgar score at 5 min) and perinatal outcome (spontaneous miscarriage, premature rupture of membranes, intrauterine death, placental abruption and neonatal death). Results: Seventy-nine patients were treated with laser therapy for stage I,IV TTTS (median stage III). Median gestational age at treatment was 20 weeks (range 16,25). Median gestational age at delivery was 32 weeks (range 24,40). Survival of at least one baby in this study was 90.7% (88.9% for anterior and 92.1% for posterior placenta), and of both babies was 60.0%. Median birth weight was 1788 g (range 490,3695). Median Apgar score was nine at 5 min. Three women required repeat laser treatment for persistent TTTS. Conclusions: Selective laser photocoagulation of communicating vessels remains the treatment of choice for TTTS. Referrals to the NSW FTC have increased from five cases in the last half of 2003, to 18 cases in the first half of 2008. Local outcome figures at least equal any in the published international literature and support a continued policy of centralised care in Australia. A two-year follow-up study on neonatal outcome for survivors is underway. [source]


Modulation of cytokine production by dydrogesterone in lymphocytes from women with recurrent miscarriage

BJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 8 2005
Raj Raghupathy
Objective To examine the effects of dydrogesterone on the production of Th1 and Th2 cytokines by lymphocytes from women undergoing unexplained recurrent spontaneous miscarriage (RSM). Design Controlled prospective, clinical study conducted in a maternity hospital and a university-based immunology laboratory. Setting Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University and Kuwait Maternity Hospital. Sample Thirty women with unexplained RSM. Methods Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from women with unexplained RSM were isolated from venous blood by density gradient sedimentation and stimulated with phytohaemagglutinin (PHA). Culture supernatants assayed for interferon (IFN)-,, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-,, interleukin (IL)-4, IL-6 and IL-10 by ELISA. Levels of the progesterone-induced blocking factor (PIBF) were also measured. Main outcome measures Cytokine production in the presence and absence of progesterone and dydrogesterone. Results Dydrogesterone significantly inhibited the production of the Th1 cytokines IFN-, (P= 0.0001) and TNF-, (P= 0.005) and induced an increase in the levels of the Th2 cytokines IL-4 (P= 0.03) and IL-6 (P= 0.017) resulting in a substantial shift in the ratio of Th1/Th2 cytokines. The effect of dydrogesterone was blocked by the addition of the progesterone-receptor antagonist mifepristone, indicating that dydrogesterone was acting via the progesterone receptor. Dydrogesterone induced the production of PIBF. Conclusion Dydrogesterone inhibits the production of the Th1 cytokines IFN-, and TNF-, from lymphocytes and up-regulates the production of the Th2 cytokines IL-4 and IL-6, inducing a Th1 to Th2 cytokine shift. [source]


Factor V Leiden and G20210A prothrombin mutations are risk factors for very early recurrent miscarriage

BJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 12 2001
M.F. Reznikoff-Etiévant
Objective To determine whether there is an association between early recurrent miscarriage (before 10 weeks of pregnancy) and Factor V Leiden and G20210A prothrombin mutations. Design A prospective study. Setting Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Saint Antoine Hospital, Paris, France. Population Two groups of women: those with early unexplained recurrent miscarriage before 10 weeks of pregnancy (n=260) and control healthy women without a previous history of thromboembolism (n=240). Methods Screening for defects in the protein C anticoagulant pathway was performed using the anticoagulant response to agkistrodon confortrix venom (ACV test). Protein C and Factor V Leiden mutation testing was performed for each low ACV level. Each sample was tested for the G20210A prothrombin mutation. Results Factor V Leiden and G20210A mutations were found to be associated with early recurrent spontaneous miscarriage before 10 weeks of pregnancy, the odds ratios being 2.4 (95% CI 1,5) and 2.7 (95% CI 1,7), respectively. Similar results were found whether or not women had had a previous live birth. Conclusions Early recurrent miscarriage before 10 weeks of pregnancy is significantly associated with Factor V or G20210A prothrombin mutations. These results indicate a possible role for anticoagulant prevention in these early miscarriages. [source]


Should tissue from pregnancy termination and uterine evacuation routinely be examined histologically?

BJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 6 2000
Victoria Heath Senior House Officer
Objective To assess the value of routine histological examination of tissue samples collected at termination of pregnancy in the first trimester and emergency surgical uterine evacuation. Setting The gynaecological department of a teaching hospital. Design Prospective study of women attending the gynaecological department in a 12-month period. Participants All women undergoing a therapeutic first trimester medical or surgical abortion or an emergency surgical evacuation of a failed pregnancy, suspected incomplete spontaneous miscarriage or incomplete induced abortion. Main outcome Association of pre-operative clinical diagnosis and the post-operative histological result. Results Of 1576 women studied, the histological report confirmed that products of conception were obtained in 1465 (93%); in two women (0.13%) molar changes were reported confirming the pre-operative diagnosis by ultrasound. Products of conception were not confirmed in the tissue specimens in 0.5% medical terminations, 5% surgical terminations, 10% evacuations following a previous evacuation, 12% evacuations for a failed pregnancy, and 19% evacuations for an incomplete miscarriage. In 87 women (6%), decidua was reported; two of these women had undergone an evacuation for an ultrasound diagnosis of spontaneous miscarriage, but in both a tubal ectopic pregnancy was subsequently diagnosed. Conclusion There did not appear to be any obvious benefit from routine histological examination of tissue removed at termination of pregnancy or emergency uterine evacuation. The histological result was sometimes not consistent with the pre-operative diagnosis and may result in unnecessary further investigation and treatment unless due consideration is given to the clinical presentation. [source]


MLPA as a screening method of aneuploidy and unbalanced chromosomal rearrangements in spontaneous miscarriages

PRENATAL DIAGNOSIS, Issue 8 2007
Dan Diego-Alvarez
Abstract Objective The present study aims to validate multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) technique with subtelomeric probe mixes as a screening method to detect aneuploidy and unbalanced terminal chromosomal rearrangements in spontaneous abortions (SAs). Methods MLPA with P036B and P070 probe mixes was performed on 221 miscarriage DNA samples between the 5th and 24th week of gestation. Cytogenetic culture was attempted on 178 miscarriages. Karyotyped miscarriages served as controls in this blinded study. Results were confirmed by quantitative fluorescent-PCR (QF,PCR). Results Among the karyotyped miscarriages, MLPA was able to detect all the expected aneuploidies, as well as an unbalanced product from a reciprocal translocation, and revealed cryptic deletions and duplications not visible at the 550-band resolution level. In addition, chromosomal anomalies were found in ,37% of cases that failed to grow or could not be cultivated. As expected, ploidy changes were not detected. Copy number variation was found for target sequences of P036B (CYFIP1, MRPL41, CAB45) and P070 (DECR2, TNFRSF18) probe mixes. Conclusions We propose the use of MLPA with subtelomeric probe mixes as a reliable, rapid and economical first approach to detect aneuploidy and unbalanced terminal chromosomal rearrangements in SAs. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Pregnancy outcomes following cabergoline treatment: extended results from a 12-year observational study

CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY, Issue 1 2008
Annamaria Colao
Summary Objective, Cabergoline is a dopamine agonist used to treat hyperprolactinaemia. Because hyperprolactinaemia is a significant cause of infertility in women, cabergoline and other dopamine agonists are frequently prescribed to reduce prolactin levels and restore normal menses. They are usually discontinued shortly after the patient becomes pregnant. Although cabergoline has been used to treat hyperprolactinaemia since the mid-1990s, safety data related to maternal and foetal exposure to this agent are still limited. Design, The current prospective, observational study reports on a total of 380 pregnancies. This extends by 154 pregnancies the results of a previously published interim report on the outcomes of 226 pregnancies in women treated with cabergoline up to 1994. Main outcome measures, Outcomes examined include the incidence of abortions and premature delivery and the number and types of foetal malformations or abnormalities. Results, Follow-up data were available for 329 pregnancies, including 258 (78%) deliveries and 71 (22%) abortions. Of the 71 reported abortions, 31 (44%) were voluntary, 30 (42%) were spontaneous miscarriages, and nine (13%) were therapeutic. Of the 258 deliveries, 250 (97%) were live deliveries, four (2%) were stillbirths, and the status of delivery was unknown for the remaining four (2%). Of the 250 live deliveries, 193 (77%) were term deliveries (gestational period > 37 weeks), 45 (18%) were preterm deliveries (gestational period , 37 weeks), and 62% of the infants had normal birthweights (i.e. 3,4 kg). Neonatal abnormalities were recorded for 23 (9%) of the infants with no apparent pattern in type or severity. Conclusion, The results of this study suggest that foetal exposure to cabergoline through early pregnancy does not induce any increase in the risk of miscarriage or foetal malformation. [source]