Prevalence of antiphospholipid antibodies, factor V G1691A (Leiden) and prothrombin G20210A mutations in early and late recurrent pregnancy loss.
OBJECTIVE
We assessed the prevalence of inherited (FV-Leiden and PRT G20210A), and acquired (anti-PL antibodies) risk factors among habitual aborters in Tunisia.


METHODS
We studied prospectively 146 patients with > or =3 consecutive early, late, or early-late recurrent pregnancy losses, together with 99 age-matched controls. Anticardiolipin antibodies (ACL), lupus anticoagulant (LA), and APC resistance (APCR) were detected by ELISA, dilute Russell Viper Venom Time (dRVVT), and coagulation tests, respectively, and FV-Leiden and PRT G20210A genotypes were assessed by PCR.


RESULTS
Anti-PL antibody frequencies were 45 and 9% among patients and controls, respectively (P < 0.001), with positive LA only (P = 0.004), or combined elevated ACL-positive LA being consistently higher (P < 0.001) among patients than controls. FV-Leiden (20.54% versus 6.06%), but not PRT G20210A (2.74% versus 4.04%) was significantly higher in patients versus controls. Among LA-positive cases higher prevalence of G/A (14/146 versus 1/99) and A/A genotypes (4/146 versus 0/99) were seen, and among ACL-positive cases higher prevalence of G/A (10/146 versus 0/99) and A/A genotypes (2/146 versus 0/99) were recorded.


CONCLUSIONS
Anti-PL antibodies and FV-Leiden, but not PRT G20210A, are associated with recurrent idiopathic pregnancy losses in Tunisian women.
Mtiraoui
Nabil
N
Research Unit of Haematological and Autoimmune Diseases, Faculty of Pharmacy, Monastir, Center University, Tunisia.
Borgi
Lobna
L
Hizem
Sondes
S
Nsiri
Brahim
B
Finan
Ramzi R
RR
Gris
Jean-Christophe
JC
Almawi
Wassim Y
WY
Mahjoub
Touhami
T
D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D020016:Activated Protein C Resistance / Q000453:epidemiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid / Q000097:blood*; D005165:Factor V / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation; D011247:Pregnancy; D011516:Prothrombin / Q000235:genetics*; D014416:Tunisia
D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid; C095381:factor V Leiden; D005165:Factor V; D011516:Prothrombin