title: Hyperhomocysteinemia: a risk factor in women with unexplained recurrent early pregnancy loss.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish the prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia in women with unexplained recurrent early pregnancy loss.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a patient-control study, the methionine-homocysteine metabolism was investigated by a standardized oral methionine-loading test.
  
  
  METHODS
  Gynecologic outpatient department of university hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  One-hundred and two women who had been referred to the hospital because they suffered from at least two consecutive unexplained spontaneous abortions (study group) as well as 41 controls who were recruited by public advertisement were selected.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood samples were collected just before and 6 hours after oral methionine administration to determine plasma total homocysteine concentrations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Plasma total homocysteine concentrations 6 hours after methionine loading. Hyperhomocysteinemia was defined as total homocysteine concentration at 6 hours exceeding the 97.5 percentile level of the controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hyperhomocysteinemia was diagnosed in 21 women of the study group (21%). In the parous women of the study group, the prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia was more than two times greater compared with the nulliparous subjects (33% and 14%, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hyperhomocysteinemia is a risk factor in women with unexplained recurrent early pregnancy loss.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Nijmegen, St Radboud, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Wouters
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Boers
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Blom
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Trijbels
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Borm
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Steegers-Theunissen
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Eskes
mesh_terms: D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D000328:Adult; D000592:Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008715:Methionine / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D006710:Homocysteine; D008715:Methionine