Prevalence and heterogeneity of antiphosphatidylethanolamine antibodies in patients with recurrent early pregnancy losses

Abstract

Objective: To describe the prevalence of antiphospholipid antibodies to both anionic and zwitterionic phospholipids in women with early recurrent pregnancy losses (RPLs).

Design: Retrospective data analysis.

Setting: Tokai University Hospital, Kanagawa, Japan.

Patient(s): One hundred thirty-nine patients with unexplained early RPLs.

Intervention(s): None.

Main outcome measure(s): Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to measure autoantibodies to phosphatidylethanolamine, cardiolipin, and phosphatidylserine.

Result(s): Twenty-eight (20.1%), 17 (12.2%), and 2 (1.4%) patients of the 139 total patients were positive for immunoglobulin (Ig) G, IgM, and IgA antiphosphatidylethanolamine antibodies, respectively. Because 3 patients had two isotypes, 44 (31.7%) of the patients were positive for antiphosphatidylethanolamine antibodies. Six patients (4.3%) and 1 patient (0.7%) were positive for IgG and IgM antiphosphatidylserine antibodies, respectively. Seven patients (5%) were positive for beta2-glycoprotein I-independent anticardiolipin IgG, and 1 patient was positive for beta2-glycoprotein I-dependent anticardiolipin IgG. Two patients (1.4%) had lupus anticoagulant.

Conclusion(s): Our data show a statistically stronger association between RPLs and antiphosphatidylethanolamine antibodies than between RPLs and antibodies to anionic phospholipids for early gestational losses. Our data suggest that antiphosphatidylethanolamine antibodies may be a risk factor in patients with early RPLs.