First-trimester ultrasonography findings in women with a history of recurrent pregnancy loss.
OBJECTIVE
We tabulated first-trimester ultrasonography findings in women with recurrent pregnancy loss and determined the rate of subsequent pregnancy loss and live births after demonstration of a live embryo.


METHODS
Sixty-seven women with three or more recurrent miscarriages underwent first-trimester ultrasonography and were prospectively followed through 101 pregnancies.


RESULTS
First-trimester ultrasonography showed a dead embryo in seven pregnancies. Two of gestational sac in 12, and an empty uterus in four. A live embryo was seen in 78 pregnancies. Two of these pregnancies were terminated because of fetal chromosomal abnormalities. Of the remaining 76 pregnancies, 13 (17%) ended in a fetal loss (spontaneous abortion or fetal death) and 63 (83%) resulted in viable live births.


CONCLUSIONS
Among women with recurrent pregnancy loss the presence of a live embryo detected by first-trimester ultrasonography is not as encouraging as in normal pregnant women. These findings are useful in counseling patients with recurrent pregnancy loss.
van Leeuwen
I
I
University of Leiden School of Medicine, The Netherlands.
Branch
D W
DW
Scott
J R
JR
D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal