Are serum progesterone levels predictive of recurrent miscarriage in future pregnancies?

OBJECTIVE

To examine the predictive value of midluteal serum P as a marker of a luteal phase defect (LPD) in future pregnancies of recurrent aborters.

DESIGN

Prospective analysis.

SETTING

Nagoya City University Hospital.

PATIENT(S): One hundred ninety-seven women with a history of two consecutive first trimester abortions, none of whom had any other medical problems or an identifiable cause of recurrent miscarriages, such as uterine anomalies or evidence of antiphospholipid antibodies. None of the study subjects received any medication for miscarriage or infertility.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): A midluteal phase single serum P level < 10 ng/mL was used as the criterion for a potential LPD: those whose subsequent pregnancy was successful and those in which failure was the end result.

RESULT(S): Of the 197 patients, 46 (23.4%) demonstrated LPD without other endocrine abnormalities and 38 (19.3%) recurrent aborters suffered another abortion, with figures for LPD-negative and LPD-positive patients of 20.5% (31/151) and 15.2% (7/46), respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups.

CONCLUSION(S): Progesterone, E2, and the P/E2 ratio may not predict future pregnancy loss in recurrent aborters.