Pregnancy outcome following ultrasound-detected fetal cardiac activity in women with a history of multiple spontaneous abortions

The Importance of an Evidence-based Workup for Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

Choosing an evidence-based workup and treatment for recurrent pregnancy loss is imperative to provide best patient care and create a culture that permits rigorous research into potential (not yet evidence-based) tests and therapeutics. As health sciences technologies become more sophisticated, more precise, and less expensive, new tools may be developed that allow better evaluation and treatment of couples with recurrent pregnancy loss. The goal must remain optimizing value and adhering to evidence-based care.

A Comparison of Pattern of Pregnancy Loss in Women with Infertility Undergoing IVF and Women with Unexplained Recurrent Miscarriages Who Conceive Spontaneously

Objective. Women with infertility and recurrent miscarriages may have an overlapping etiology. The aim of this study was to compare the pregnancy loss in pregnancies after IVF treatment with spontaneous pregnancies in women with recurrent miscarriages and to assess differences related to cause of infertility. Methods. The outcome from 1220 IVF pregnancies (Group I) was compared with 611 spontaneous pregnancies (Group II) in women with recurrent miscarriages. Subgroup analysis was performed in Group I based on cause of infertility: tubal factor (392 pregnancies); male factor (610 pregnancies); and unexplained infertility (218 pregnancies). Results. The clinical pregnancy loss rate in Group I (14.3%) was significantly lower than that of Group II (25.8%, p < 0.001) and this was independent of the cause of infertility. However the timing of pregnancy loss was similar between Groups I and II. The clinical pregnancy loss rate in Group I was similar in different causes of infertility. Conclusions. The clinical pregnancy loss rate following IVF treatment is lower than that of women with unexplained recurrent miscarriages who conceived spontaneously. This difference persists whether the infertility is secondary to tubal factors, male factors, or unexplained cause.

A systematic review of dydrogesterone for the treatment of recurrent miscarriage

The objective of this systematic review was to assesses whether the orally acting progestagen, dydrogesterone lowers the incidence of subsequent miscarriage in women with recurrent miscarriage. A computerized search was performed in Medline, Embase and Ovid Medline for original reports with the product name "Duphaston" or "dydrogesterone" and limited to clinical human data. Thirteen reports of dydrogesterone treatment were identified. Two randomized trials and one non-randomized comparative trial were identified, including 509 women who fulfilled the criteria for meta-analysis. The number of subsequent miscarriages or continuing pregnancies per woman was compared in women receiving dydrogesterone compared to standard bed rest or placebo intervention. There was a 10.5% (29/275) miscarriage rate after dydrogesterone administration compared to 23.5% in control women (odds ratio for miscarriage 0.29 [confidence interval 0.13-0.65] and 13% absolute reduction in the miscarriage rate). The adverse and side effects were summarised in all 13 reports, and seemed to be minimal. Although all the predictive and confounding factors could not be controlled for, the results of this systematic review show a significant reduction of 29% in the odds for miscarriage when dydrogesterone is compared to standard care indicating a real treatment effect.

Recurrent miscarriage and hCG supplementation: a review and metaanalysis

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) has been used to prevent subsequent miscarriages after previous recurrent miscarriages. In addition to the luteotrophic effects, hCG has uterine immune and autocrine actions. hCG also affects cytokine expression. A Cochrane database systematic review has indicated that hCG seems to prevent further miscarriages, (OR for miscarriage = 0.26, 95% CI 0.14-0.52). However, the trials in the Cochrane database were not matched for the number of miscarriages, 1°, 2° or 3° aborter status, maternal age, etc. and no account was made for chromosomally abnormal pregnancies. All of these impact on the subsequent prognosis and may confound the results. The previous trials in the literature all assessed urinary (u-hCG) rather than recombinant hCG (r-hCG), raising the question whether the effect on pregnancy outcome is due to hCG itself, or other urinary proteins present in u-hCG. A new trial is indicated in which r-hCG is compared to u-hCG and the most effective compared to placebo. Treatment and placebos arms should be stratified for the prognostic factors above and the results corrected for fetal chromosomal aberrations. Until such a trial is carried out, the use of hCG supplementation is empiric.

Predictive value of the presence of an embryonic heartbeat for live birth: Comparison of women with and without recurrent pregnancy loss

OBJECTIVE

To determine the predictive value of an embryonic heart rate (EHR) for a live birth in women with and without a history of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL).

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study with concurrent controls.

SETTING

A subspecialty clinic for couples with RPL.

PATIENT(S)

Three hundred pregnant women who previously had been diagnosed with RPL, followed prospectively compared with 300 age-, race-, and gestational age-matched pregnant control women.

INTERVENTION(S)

Transvaginal sonography between 6 to 8 weeks of gestation.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

The EHR was determined between 6 and 8 weeks of gestation by transvaginal sonography. Obstetrical history and current pregnancy outcome were evaluated.

RESULT(S)

Data were analyzed by using the two-tailed t test and Fisher's exact test. In women with RPL, an EHR predicted a successful live birth in 246 (82%) of 300, compared with 294 (98%) of 300 in control women. The mean (+/- SD) EHR from successful pregnancies in the control group (143.2 +/- 20.8 beats per minute) was significantly higher than the mean in women with a history of RPL (131.4 +/- 22.9 beats per minute).

CONCLUSION(S)

An EHR in women with RPL is associated with a live birth rate of 82% and is significantly lower than EHR in controls. Clinicians should use this information to counsel patients with RPL.

Reflections on the management of reproductive failure in the antiphospholipid syndrome--the clinician's perspective

It is well known that women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who have antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) are at increased risk for pregnancy loss. Additionally, other reproductive processes, such as unexplained infertility and implantation failure after in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer may be affected by aPL. Thus, clinical manifestations of the so-called 'gynaeco-obstetrical antiphospholipid syndrome' have been expanded into the concept of the 'reproductive autoimmune failure syndrome'. However, this is still a matter of debate with no general agreement with respect to both pathophysiological significance of the presence of aPL and patient management. This article analyses a number of controversies in the management of reproductive failure potentially associated with aPL in order to help clinicians dealing with such condition in daily clinical practice.

Antiphospholipid antibody-associated recurrent pregnancy loss: treatment with heparin and low-dose aspirin is superior to low-dose aspirin alone

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to compare the use of low-dose aspirin alone with heparin and low-dose aspirin in the treatment of the antiphospholipid antibody syndrome.

STUDY DESIGN

A prospective, single-center trial included 50 patients who were alternately assigned to treatment. Each patient had at least three consecutive spontaneous pregnancy losses, positive antiphospholipid antibodies on two occasions, and a complete evaluation. Data were compared by chi(2) analysis and Fisher's exact test.

RESULTS

Viable infants were delivered of 11 of 25 (44%) women treated with aspirin and 20 of 25 (80%) women treated with heparin and aspirin (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences between the low-dose aspirin and the heparin plus low-dose aspirin groups with respect to gestational age at delivery (37.8 +/- 2.1 vs 37.2 +/- 3.4 weeks), number of cesarean sections (18% vs 20%), or complications.

CONCLUSION

Heparin plus low-dose aspirin provides a significantly better pregnancy outcome than low-dose aspirin alone does for antiphospholipid antibody-associated recurrent pregnancy loss.

A clinical trial for the treatment of antiphospholipid antibody-associated recurrent pregnancy loss with lower dose heparin and aspirin

This study was conducted to determine if lower dose heparin (LD Heparin) combined with aspirin is as efficacious as higher dose heparin (HD Heparin) for the treatment of the antiphospholipid antibody syndrome in women seeking pregnancy. The method of the study was a prospective, single center trial including 50 patients who were consecutively assigned to treatment. Each patient had at least three consecutive, spontaneous pregnancy losses, positive antiphospholipid antibodies on two occasions, and a complete evaluation. Data were compared using Fisher's exact test. Viable infants were delivered from 20/25 (80%) women treated with higher dose heparin vs. 19/25 (76%) of women treated with lower dose heparin. There were no significant differences between groups with respect to gestational age at the time of delivery (37.2 +/- 3.4 versus 37.7 +/- 1.6 weeks), maternal complications, or fetal complications. A lower dose of heparin plus aspirin was as effective as higher dose heparin for the treatment of antiphospholipid antibody-associated recurrent pregnancy loss.