title: Viable pregnancies beyond 28 weeks gestation in women with a history of unexplained recurrent miscarriage have reduced platelet function.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to characterize platelet function in pregnant patients with a history of unexplained recurrent miscarriage (RM) in the third trimester of a subsequent viable pregnancy, a time at which platelet dysfunction may be associated with an increased obstetric risk.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective study was performed comparing 30 viable pregnancies that had reached at least 28 weeks' gestation amongst patients who had a background history of unexplained RM, with 30 healthy pregnant controls at a similar gestational age. Platelet function was determined by means of platelet aggregation in response to 5 different agonists at multiple concentrations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Amongst the 30 RM patients with ongoing viable pregnancies, we demonstrated significantly reduced platelet aggregation compared to the pregnant controls in the third trimester. For three out of five agonists, we demonstrated statistically significantly decreased platelet aggregation and for all five agonists we demonstrated significantly decreased platelet aggregation in the postnatal period. There were no obvious differences in obstetric outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that women with a history of unexplained RM have reduced platelet function after 28 weeks' gestation in their subsequent pregnancies compared to healthy pregnant controls, but without this difference leading to any obvious increase in adverse obstetric risk.
authors.affiliation: Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) and the Rotunda Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. Electronic address: markydempsey@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Dempsey
authors.affiliation: Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) and the Rotunda Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Flood
authors.affiliation: Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) and the Rotunda Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Naomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Burke
authors.affiliation: Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) and the Rotunda Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Aoife
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.affiliation: Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) and the Rotunda Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cotter
authors.affiliation: Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) and the Rotunda Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Siglinde
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Muellers
authors.affiliation: Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) and the Rotunda Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dicker
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Rotunda Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fletcher
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Rotunda Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Geary
authors.affiliation: Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) and the Rotunda Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Fergal D
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Malone
authors.affiliation: Molecular and Cellular Therapeutics, RCSI, St Stephens Green, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Dermot
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kenny
mesh_terms: D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D001791:Blood Platelet Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D010974:Platelet Aggregation; D010976:Platelet Count; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood*; D011446:Prospective Studies
keywords: Platelet aggregation; Unexplained recurrent miscarriage