Preliminary prospective study of the endocrinology of conception cycles and early pregnancy in women with antiphospholipid syndrome treated with low molecular weight heparin.

OBJECTIVE

To examine whether there were any differences in the endocrinological profiles during conception cycle and early pregnancy between a control group and women with a history of recurrent miscarriage that was caused by antiphospholipid syndrome and that was treated with aspirin and low molecular weight heparin.

DESIGN

Prospective observational study.

SETTING

Recurrent Miscarriage Clinic, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in a tertiary care centre.

PATIENT(S): Five women with recurrent pregnancy loss were recruited as cases, whereas another five women having natural cycle donor insemination were used as control.

INTERVENTION(S): Serial measurement of serum beta-hCG, activin A, and inhibin A was performed from postovulatory day 12 until 11 weeks of gestation.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Comparison of levels of beta-hCG, activin A, and inhibin A at the time of conception onwards till 11 weeks in the two groups.

RESULT(S): There were no significant differences between the two groups.

CONCLUSION(S): There does not appear to be any obvious endocrinological alteration in the conception cycle of women with antiphospholipid syndrome compared with a control group. Furthermore, the initiation of heparin does not produce a significant change in activin A and inhibin A levels.