Do women with recurrent miscarriage constitute a high-risk obstetric population?

The aim of this study was to examine if women with history of recurrent miscarriage have a higher risk of maternal and foetal complications in future pregnancies. This was a retrospective case control study that analysed data collected prospectively between 2001 and 2007 from 400 women with history of recurrent miscarriage who achieved pregnancies progressing beyond 24 weeks gestation compared to 39,860 deliveries from the general obstetric database within the same time period. Results showed that women with recurrent miscarriage had significantly increased odds of low Apgar scores at one (odds ratios (OR) 1.57, 95% CI 1.20-2.05) and five minutes (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.23-3.27), small for gestational age (OR 1.96, 95% CI 1.12-3.43), preterm delivery (OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.22-2.19) and antepartum haemorrhage (OR 7.67, 95% CI 4.23-13.91). The risks were increased in the presence of a male foetus but no difference was observed between primary and secondary miscarriage patients. In conclusion, women with recurrent miscarriage have an increased risk of several maternal and foetal complications and therefore may require closer monitoring during the antenatal period particularly when pregnant with a male foetus.