title: Recurrent spontaneous abortion. Etiologic factors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Spontaneous abortion is the most common complication of pregnancy. It may be unique, remaining random and having no consequences on the reproductive process, or it can repeat itself, starting a clinical picture known as recurrent spontaneous abortion or habitual abortion. The term of RSA syndrome is used to define the repetition of three or more consecutive abortions before the 24th week.
  
  
  METHODS
  A population of 195 couples with recurrent spontaneous abortion were screened for genetic, metabolic, infective, morphological, endocrine and autoimmune factors. Eighty-five completed the investigation, 44 are being tested and 66 did not complete the diagnostic course. Causes of recurrent abortion were evaluated in relation to the period of abortion and number of embryo losses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-six percent of patients who completed the investigation turned out to be sine causa, which is in accordance with the findings in literature.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Couple with RSA require accurate counselling and it is fundamental to eliminate any pathologies that can be discovered so as to improve the likelihood of the pregnancy's reaching term.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chair C, University of Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Patriarca
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Piccioni
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gigante
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Parise
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Benedetto
mesh_terms: D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015907:Hysteroscopy; D007621:Karyotyping; D011247:Pregnancy; D014178:Translocation, Genetic
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies