Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies and other immunologic abnormalities in patients with habitual abortion.

PROBLEM: The immunologic mechanisms of pregnancy loss in habitual aborters with antiphospholipid and antinuclear antibodies have not been fully clarified. The possible association of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCAs) with recurrent miscarriage was examined.

METHOD OF STUDY: In a prospective, controlled trial of 59 women with recurrent abortion, the prevalence of pANCA (antimyeloperoxidase), cANCA (antiproteinase-3), and immunoserologic abnormalities of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) anti double-stranded DNA, anti-SSA, anti-SSB, anti-U1RNP, anti-Sm, anticardiolipin and antinuclear antibodies, LE-cell, lupus anticoagulant, and complement-3 were investigated.

RESULTS

pANCA occurred in 2, and cANCA in 6 of 59 case patients, but neither was observed in the controls (P = 0.09 for cANCA). cANCA levels were significantly higher in patients than in controls (P = 0.028). Six recurrent aborters were identified as having a group of immunoserologic abnormalities characteristic of SLE.

CONCLUSIONS

Immunologic mechanisms detectable in SLE may operate in a subgroup of habitual aborters with suspected immunologic cause. ANCAs occur more frequently in patients with recurrent miscarriage than in controls.