title: Prevalence of antiphospholipid antibodies, factor V G1691A (Leiden) and prothrombin G20210A mutations in early and late recurrent pregnancy loss.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Research Unit of Haematological and Autoimmune Diseases, Faculty of Pharmacy, Monastir, Center University, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Nabil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mtiraoui
authors.forename: Lobna
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Borgi
authors.forename: Sondes
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hizem
authors.forename: Brahim
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nsiri
authors.forename: Ramzi R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Finan
authors.forename: Jean-Christophe
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Gris
authors.forename: Wassim Y
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Almawi
authors.forename: Touhami
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mahjoub
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid; C095381:factor V Leiden; D005165:Factor V; D011516:Prothrombin