title: Predictive factors in recurrent spontaneous aborters--a multicenter study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Compare data from several centers relating to success rates in recurrent spontaneous miscarriage and assess the significance of indicators of subsequent pregnancy loss.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from 777 couples with unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion from independent studies at seven centers were analyzed using logistic regression analysis. The following covariates were considered: age of patient, number of previous spontaneous abortions, length of previous abortions history, sub-fertility index (defined as the product of the number of spontaneous abortions and the abortion history), whether a patient was a primary or secondary aborter, and whether a patient had received leukocyte immunotherapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a highly significant difference between the seven centers in success rates in the subsequent pregnancy and a highly significant association between success rate and each of the following covariates: the number of previous abortions, the length of the previous abortion history and the sub-fertility index. In particular, for each increase of 10 units in the value of the sub-fertility index, up to a value of 30, the odds in favor of a successful pregnancy decreased by a factor of 0.6, i.e., 40%. There was, however, little evidence of an association between the success rate in the subsequent pregnancy and age, parity, or immunization with cells from the husband.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The sub-fertility index may be a useful measure of likelihood of success in a subsequent pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Malta.
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Cauchi
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Coulam
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cowchock
authors.forename: H N
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gatenby
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Lubs
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: McIntyre
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Ramsden
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy