Predicting recurring miscarriage: what is important?

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To audit the Miscarriage Clinic in Liverpool and to categorize women into those at low and high risk of a subsequent pregnancy loss.

METHODS:

Over 4 years (1989-1992), 203 consecutive couples attended the Miscarriage Clinic in Liverpool. A data base was designed and a mathematical model formulated that described the data base.

RESULTS:

A successful pregnancy outcome was most likely in the presence of the following features: menstrual regularity, fewer than four previous miscarriages, maternal age of less than 30 years, absence of antiphospholipid antibodies, and a previous live birth. Oligomenorrhea was a considerably more significant feature than any other in predicting a subsequent miscarriage. These high-risk oligomenorrheic women were found to have low luteal phase estradiol levels, but normal luteal phase progesterone profiles and normal LH profiles throughout the menstrual cycle.

CONCLUSIONS:

Women suffering from recurring miscarriage can be placed into differing risk categories. Women with a good prognosis require counseling alone. Women at high risk of a subsequent miscarriage had oligomenorrhea and an isolated deficiency of estradiol in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle.

• Authors: S M Quenby, R G Farquharson
• Journal: Obstetrics and gynecology (Obstet Gynecol) Vol. 82 Issue 1 Pg. 132-8 (Jul 1993) ISSN: 0029-7844 [Print] United States
• PMID: 8515913 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Anticardiolipin
• Estradiol
• Luteinizing Hormone

Topics

• Abortion, Habitual (diagnosis, etiology)
• Adult
• Antibodies, Anticardiolipin (analysis)
• Estradiol (blood)
• Female
• Humans
• Luteinizing Hormone (blood)
• Maternal Age
• Oligomenorrhea (complications)
• Pregnancy
• Pregnancy Outcome
• ROC Curve
• Recurrence
• Risk Factors