title: Antiphospholipid antibodies among pregnant women with recurrent fetal wastage in a tertiary hospital in Northern Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The association between antiphospholipid antibodies (APAs) and pregnancy loss has been established and now considered as a treatable cause of pregnancy loss. Data on the prevalence of APA in patients with recurrent pregnancy loss are scarce in our environment.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of APA in pregnant women with and without recurrent fetal wastage.
  
  
  METHODS
  Antenatal clinic of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria. A cross-section analytical study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-five antenatal patients with recurrent fetal loss (cases) and an equal number of antenatal patients without recurrent fetal loss (control) matched for age were studied. Their sociodemographic data obtained and blood samples analyzed for lupus anticoagulant (LA) using activated partial thromboplastin time, direct Russel's viper venom time, hexagonal phospholipids, and IgG anticardiolipin antibody (ACA) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were analyzed with Statistical Package for Social Sciences (version 17) by univariate analysis and Chi-square test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The age range of the patients was 18-42 years with a median of 30 years. The prevalence of APA was 14.1% and 4.7% among the cases and controls, respectively. The prevalence of LA was 7.1% and 1.2% among the cases and controls, respectively, whereas ACA was 8.2% and 3.5%, respectively. However, one of the cases was positive for both APA and ACA, giving a prevalence of 1.2%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of APA among antenatal patients with recurrent pregnancy loss was, at least, 3 times higher than that of normal antenatal clients. APA should be included in the investigation protocol of women with recurrent fetal wastages in our setting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Zubaida Garba
authors.initials: ZG
authors.lastname: Abdullahi
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Mohammmed A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Abdul
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Sirajo M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Aminu
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Immunology Unit, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Bolanle O P
authors.initials: BO
authors.lastname: Musa
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Lawal
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Amadu
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Pathology, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria.
authors.forename: El-Bashir M
authors.initials: el-BM
authors.lastname: Jibril
mesh_terms: D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017153:Antibodies, Anticardiolipin / Q000097:blood; D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid / Q000097:blood*; D001780:Blood Coagulation Tests; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D016682:Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor / Q000097:blood; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D015995:Prevalence; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers
chemical_list: D017153:Antibodies, Anticardiolipin; D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D016682:Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor