Recurrent miscarriage
- 1 April 2005
- journal article
- review article
- Published by BMJ in BMJ Sexual & Reproductive Health
- Vol. 31 (2), 103-107
- https://doi.org/10.1783/1471189053629428
Abstract
Recurrent miscarriage, the occurrence of three consecutive first-trimester losses of pregnancy, affects 1% of women. The purported causes of recurrent miscarriage include chromosomal abnormalities, thrombophilia, metabolic disorders, anatomical causes and immune factors. At present, the only recommended investigations are testing for lupus anticoagulant and anticardiolipin antibody levels (to diagnose antiphospholipid syndrome, an acquired thrombophilia) and the karyotyping of both parents for chromosomal abnormalities. Women with antiphospholipid syndrome should be offered treatment with aspirin and low molecular weight heparin. Couples with chromosomal abnormalities should be referred to a clinical geneticist with whom the options of prenatal diagnosis, pre-implantation genetic diagnosis, donor gametes and adoption in subsequent pregnancies should be discussed. Couples with unexplained recurrent miscarriage should be offered appropriate emotional support and reassurance that they have a good prognosis for future pregnancies.Keywords
This publication has 79 references indexed in Scilit:
- Skewed X Inactivation and Recurrent Spontaneous AbortionSeminars in Reproductive Medicine, 2001
- Use of fluorescence in situ hybridization to assess the chromosomal status of embryos obtained from cryopreserved oocytesFertility and Sterility, 2001
- Activated Protein C Resistance and Factor V Leiden Mutation can be Associated with First‐ as well as Second‐Trimester Recurrent Pregnancy Loss1American Journal of Reproductive Immunology, 2000
- MUC1 as a Cell Surface and Secretory Component of Endometrial Epithelium: Reduced Levels in Recurrent MiscarriageAmerican Journal of Reproductive Immunology, 1996
- Spontaneous abortion in a hospital population: Are tobacco and coffee intake risk factors?European Journal of Epidemiology, 1994
- Recurrent MiscarriageAmerican Journal of Perinatology, 1994
- Blastocyst implantation depends on maternal expression of leukaemia inhibitory factorNature, 1992
- Hypersecretion of luteinising hormone, infertility, and miscarriageThe Lancet, 1990
- Influence of past reproductive performance on risk of spontaneous abortion.BMJ, 1989
- Incidence of Spontaneous Abortion among Normal Women and Insulin-Dependent Diabetic Women Whose Pregnancies Were Identified within 21 Days of ConceptionThe New England Journal of Medicine, 1988