Maternal serum inhibin A levels are a marker of a viable trophoblast in incomplete and complete miscarriage.
OBJECTIVE
From early gestation the human trophoblast secretes large amounts of inhibin A and activin A, and their measurement provides a value for predicting the outcome in women who become pregnant after assisted reproductive techniques. The aim of the study was to investigate the putative role of maternal serum inhibin A and activin A levels as markers of a viable trophoblast in women who miscarry.


METHODS
Controlled cross-sectional study.


METHODS
One group consisted of 65 healthy pregnant women (controls), progressing to deliver a healthy singleton baby and another group consisted of 54 miscarriages (38 incomplete (27 non-viable, 11 anembryonic pregnancies) and 16 complete). Maternal blood samples were collected between 5 and 12 weeks of gestation.


RESULTS
Serum human chorionic gonadotrophin concentrations in women with incomplete or complete miscarriages were significantly (both P<0.001) lower than in controls; activin A levels being lowest only in women with a complete miscarriage (P<0.001). On the other hand, inhibin A levels were significantly lower in incomplete or complete miscarriage than in controls (both P<0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Maternal serum inhibin A, but not activin A, determination reflects the lack of a viable trophoblast in complete miscarriage.
Luisi
S
S
Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
Florio
P
P
D'Antona
D
D
Severi
F M
FM
Sanseverino
F
F
Danero
S
S
Petraglia
F
F
D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D028341:Activins / Q000097:blood; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D028322:Inhibin-beta Subunits / Q000097:blood; D007265:Inhibins / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000502:physiology*
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; C422405:activin A; C422362:inhibin A; D028341:Activins; D007265:Inhibins; D028322:Inhibin-beta Subunits