Antiphospholipid antibodies in 146 women with repeated pregnancy losses

Antiphospholipid antibodies are associated with arterial and venous thrombosis and recurrent abortions. However, the prevalence of these antibodies in repeated miscarriages varies in different reports. To obtain quantitative data with restricted criteria and discuss the origin of the variability on the literature, we investigated the presence of anti phospholipid antibodies in 146 women who had 2 or more consecutive pregnancy losses and in 99 women whose pregnancies were successful. Antiphospholipid antibodies (lupus anticoagulant or anticardiolipin antibodies of 20 or more IgG units) were found in 45% of women with pregnancy losses and in 9% of controls (p < 0.001). The type of loss was determined according to the trimester of pregnancy and the time of the fetal loss. 68% of patients with antiphospholipid antibodies had at least one fetal loss on the second or third trimester compared with 45% of patients without fetal loss (p < 0.01). Further studies should be conducted using more rigorus definition of clinical and laboratory caracteristics in a way to allow better comparison between studies.