title: Effect of prednisone and heparin treatment in 14 patients with poor reproductive efficiency related to lupus anticoagulant.
abstract: In women with a previous intrauterine fetal death related to lupus anticoagulant (LAC), we studied the effect of prednisone and calcieparine treatment to enable longer intrauterine life, increased fetal growth and increased survival rate. LAC was determined by the kaolin clotting time and was associated with elevated levels of antinuclear and anticardiolipin antibody in 42% and 21% of the cases, respectively. 14 women entered the study; they had a past history of 27 pregnancies, with only 1 small-for-gestational age (SGA) liveborn. The mean gestational age at the time of fetal death was 30 +/- 4 weeks. During index pregnancies, we observed 2 miscarriage, 9 liveborns (6 of appropriated gestational weight, 3 SGA) and a mean gestational age of 35 +/- 3 weeks. The mean decrease in fetal weight from the 50th percentile in previous pregnancies was 44%, and with treatment this was reduced to 12%. All these differences were statistically significant. We conclude that prednisone and heparin treatment can improve reproductive prognosis in fertile patients with LAC.
authors.affiliation: 6th Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Milan Medical School, San Paolo Hospital, Italy.
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Semprini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vucetich
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Garbo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Agostoni
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pardi
mesh_terms: D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D001778:Blood Coagulation Disorders / Q000276:immunology; D001779:Blood Coagulation Factors / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D002308:Cardiolipins / Q000276:immunology*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006493:Heparin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D016682:Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D001779:Blood Coagulation Factors; D002308:Cardiolipins; D016682:Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor; D006493:Heparin; D011241:Prednisone