Prevalence of activated protein C resistance among women with recurrent miscarriage

Abstract

Since 1996 activated protein C resistance is closely associated with various obstetric pathologies. The most widely discussed is that of secondary infertility due to recurrent miscarriage. However, there is still widespread discussion about the role of activated protein C resistance in this and other obstetric pathologies.

Aim: To investigate whether the activated protein C resistance is a cause of early recurrent miscarriage.

Material and methods: A study was designed as a case-control study. Two study groups were formed. Group I included women who have experienced 2 or more miscarriages (61 patients), and Group II included women who have experienced 3 or more miscarriages (33 patients). We investigated the prevalence and compared it in the control and both study groups.

Results: In Group I activated protein C resistance was found for 8 patients (14.7%), in Group II--for 5 patients (16.5%), in the control group--in 4 cases (5%). By comparing different groups the prevalence of activated protein C resistance in Group I was statistically significantly higher than in the control group (p<0.05). The prevalence of activated protein C resistance in Group II and the control group as well as between both study groups was statistically non-significant (p>0.05).

Conclusion: Activated protein C resistance might be a factor behind spontaneous recurrent miscarriage. There was no statistically significant difference between women who had suffered from 2 or 3 spontaneous abortions.