title: Increased plasma adrenomedullin in women with recurrent pregnancy loss.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate vascular changes and uterine perfusion in women with recurrent pregnancy loss.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured plasma levels of adrenomedullin of 100 pregnant women in the midluteal phase of a nonpregnant cycle (control group: n = 62; recurrent pregnancy loss group: n = 38). We measured the pulsatility index (PI) in the uterine arteries by transvaginal pulsed Doppler ultrasonography at the same time.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The plasma level of adrenomedullin in women with recurrent pregnancy loss (5.6 +/- 1.9, mean +/- standard deviation) was significantly higher (P >.001) than that in control women (3.6 +/- 1.7). Uterine arterial PI of women with recurrent pregnancy loss (2.70 +/- 0.47) was significantly higher (P >.001) than that in control women (2.09 +/- 0.39). Plasma level of adrenomedullin had a significant positive correlation with uterine arterial PI both in the control group (r =.58, P <.001) and in the recurrent pregnancy loss group (r =.78, P <.001). Both plasma adrenomedullin concentration (7.2 +/- 2.3) and uterine arterial PI (3.06 +/- 0.36) were significantly high in women with antiphospholipid antibodies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Plasma adrenomedullin may serve as a useful biochemical marker for recurrent pregnancy loss caused by impaired uterine perfusion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Okayama University Medical School, Okayama, Japan. mikiya@cc.okayama-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Mikiya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakatsuka
authors.forename: Toshihiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Habara
authors.forename: Soichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Noguchi
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Konishi
authors.forename: Takafumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kudo
mesh_terms: D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D053607:Adrenomedullin; D000328:Adult; D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid / Q000032:analysis; D004717:Endometrium / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008183:Luteal Phase / Q000502:physiology; D010455:Peptides / Q000097:blood*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018617:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Pulsed; D014599:Uterus / Q000098:blood supply
chemical_list: D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid; D010455:Peptides; D053607:Adrenomedullin