Thyroid antibodies and their relation to antithrombin antibodies, anticardiolipin antibodies and lupus anticoagulant in women with recurrent spontaneous abortions (antithyroid, anticardiolipin and antithrombin autoantibodies and lupus anticoagulant in habitual aborters).
OBJECTIVE
This study was undertaken to evaluate the incidence of thyroid autoantibodies in women with a history of recurrent spontaneous abortions (RSA) and to investigate their relationship to non-organ specific autoantibodies.


METHODS
28 euthyroid non-pregnant habitual aborters were analysed for thyreoglobulin (TG), thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO), and autoantibodies to thromboplastin, cardiolipin and lupus anticoagulant. 28 multigravidae without previous abortions or endocrine dysfunctions served as controls.


RESULTS
11 of 28 women with recurrent spontaneous miscarriage (39%), but only 2 of 28 controls (7%) (Chi square test: p < 0.01) demonstrated positive titres of TG, TPO, or both antibodies, 12 patients were positive for antithrombin antibodies and 3 for anticardiolipin. Only one women was lupus anticoagulant positive. No significant correlation between thyroid antibody positivity and positivity for antiphospholipids (Fisher's exact test: p = 0.441), anticardiolipin (p = 0.664) or lupus coagulant (p = 0.607) was found.


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of thyroid antibodies in euthyroid women with recurrent pregnancy loss appears to be significantly increased compared with controls of reproductive age without previous abortions. No correlation between the presence of thyroid autoantibodies and non-organ specific autoantibodies could be established.
Bussen
S S
SS
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Würzburg, Germany.
Steck
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D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002308:Cardiolipins / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007453:Iodide Peroxidase / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D016682:Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D011247:Pregnancy; D013954:Thyroglobulin / Q000276:immunology; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000276:immunology*
D001323:Autoantibodies; D015415:Biomarkers; D002308:Cardiolipins; D008074:Lipoproteins; D016682:Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor; C006606:anti-thyroglobulin; C051928:lipoprotein-associated coagulation inhibitor; D013954:Thyroglobulin; D007453:Iodide Peroxidase