Anticardiolipin antibodies in ectopic pregnancies.
BACKGROUND
Anticardiolipin auto-antibodies are known to be inflicted in recurrent pregnancy losses and other adverse outcomes of pregnancy. However, their role in extrauterine pregnancies is unknown.


OBJECTIVE
To clarify the association between anticardiolipin antibodies and extrauterine pregnancies.


METHODS
About 30 patients with ectopic pregnancies confirmed histologically and 40 control subjects with intrauterine pregnancies were studied. Mean duration of pregnancy was 38 and 39 days, respectively. Serum levels of IgG, IgA, and IgM antibodies against cardiolipin were measured. In addition, measurements of human chorionic gonadotropin (beta hCG) and progesterone were made.


RESULTS
Mean levels of IgA and IgM but not IgG antibodies were significantly higher in patients with ectopic pregnancies than in normal pregnant women. Distribution frequency histograms revealed that a subgroup of ectopic pregnancies exhibit antibody titers corresponding to that of intrauterine pregnancies, and others showing elevated levels. Markedly elevated antibody levels were observed in patients having low levels of beta hCG and/or progesterone.


CONCLUSIONS
In view of the inflammatory events associated with some cases of ectopic pregnancies, elevated levels of anticardiolipin auto-antibodies may give clues to pathogenesis. Determination of IgM antibodies may help discriminate ectopic pregnancies with auto-immune pathogenesis from those caused by other factors.
Jacob-Meisel
M
M
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ernst Moritz Arndt University Greifswald, Wollweberstrasse 1, D-17487 Greifswald, Germany. meiselm@uni-greifswald.de
Römer
T
T
Straube
W
W
Meisel
P
P
D000328:Adult; D017153:Antibodies, Anticardiolipin / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D011271:Pregnancy, Ectopic / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D012372:ROC Curve
D017153:Antibodies, Anticardiolipin; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D011374:Progesterone