Levels of Platelet-Leukocyte Aggregates in Women With Both Thrombophilia and Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

The aim of our study was to investigate the significance of platelet-leukocyte aggregates (PLA) in women with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) as well as to identify association between common thrombophilic factors and whole blood levels of PLA in these patients. We measured PLA by whole blood flow cytometry in 66 nonpregnant women with hereditary and/or acquired thrombophilia and RPL, classified to 3 study groups, according to the type of losses (first, second, and third trimester) and 35 age-matched healthy controls. Platelet-leukocyte aggregates levels in all study groups were significantly increased compared to the control group (median values 2.13%, 2.32%, and 2.41%, vs median value in the control group 1.39%, P < .05 for all comparisons). Women with a single thrombophilic factor and women with combination of thrombophilic factors did not differ significantly as regards the PLA levels (2.13% vs 2.27%, P = .4). This study suggests that PLA may have a role in the pathogenesis of RPL in women affected by hereditary or acquired thrombophilia.