Inhibin A and activin A may be used to predict pregnancy outcome in women with recurrent miscarriage.

OBJECTIVE

To look at the role of inhibin and activin in predicting pregnancy outcome in patients with history of recurrent miscarriage.

DESIGN

Observational clinical study.

SETTING

Recurrent miscarriage clinic of a tertiary care teaching hospital.

PATIENT(S): Patients with history of recurrent miscarriage.

INTERVENTION(S): Serial serum inhibin A and activin A concentrations were measured in weeks 5 though 8 of pregnancy.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Serum concentrations of inhibin A and activin A levels.

RESULT(S): Mean inhibin A concentration at 5 to 6 weeks for women who miscarried and those who had live births was 33 and 51 pg/mL, respectively; activin A at same gestation for the two groups was 534 and 643 pg/mL, respectively. After 2 weeks, mean inhibin A concentration for women who miscarried and those who had live births was 66 and 145 pg/mL, respectively, and activin A was 747 and 1,123 pg/mL, respectively.

CONCLUSION(S): It is possible that inhibin A and activin A may be used as markers to predict pregnancies that are likely to miscarry.