Antiphospholipid antibodies in unselected patients with repeated abortion.
We have studied, prospectively, the incidence of several antiphospholipid antibodies (lupus anticoagulant, anticardiolipin, anti-phosphatidylserine, anti-phosphatidic acid, anti-phosphatidylinositol and anti-thromboplastin antibodies) in 65 consecutive patients with two or more (range 2-8, mean 3.1) abortions. Lupus anticoagulant activity was detected in seven (10.7%) patients and all of them exhibited other antiphospholipid antibodies. Of the previous pregnancies in these seven women, 88% had ended in spontaneous abortion. Four of them achieved pregnancy after low-dose aspirin therapy was started, and carried successfully to term. It is concluded that antiphospholipid antibodies, namely lupus anticoagulant, should be routinely screened in the recurrent spontaneous aborter.
Balasch
J
J
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, Hospital Clinic i Provincial, Barcelona, Spain.
Font
J
J
López-Soto
A
A
Cervera
R
R
Jové
I
I
Casals
F J
FJ
Vanrell
J A
JA
D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D000328:Adult; D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015551:Autoimmunity; D001779:Blood Coagulation Factors / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016682:Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies
D000906:Antibodies; D001779:Blood Coagulation Factors; D016682:Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor; D010743:Phospholipids; D001241:Aspirin