Pregnancy: An informative protocol for the investigation of recurrent miscarriage: preliminary experience of 500 consecutive cases

Abstract

A total of 500 consecutive women (mean age 32.9 years; SD 5 years) presenting with a history of recurrent miscarriages (median 4; range 3–17) were investigated for the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (APA), polycystic ovaries (PCO), hypersecretion of luteinizing hormone (LH) and chromosome abnormalities in order to detect an underlying cause of their pregnancy losses. All women had details of their previous reproductive history, investigations and treatment documented: 76% of the women had experienced only early pregnancy losses (miscarriage 50% of couples. Women in the latter two groups are being recruited to randomized treatment trials which are discussed.