First-trimester ultrasonography findings in women with a history of recurrent pregnancy loss.

OBJECTIVE

We tabulated first-trimester ultrasonography findings in women with recurrent pregnancy loss and determined the rate of subsequent pregnancy loss and live births after demonstration of a live embryo.

STUDY

DESIGN

Sixty-seven women with three or more recurrent miscarriages underwent first-trimester ultrasonography and were prospectively followed through 101 pregnancies.

RESULTS

First-trimester ultrasonography showed a dead embryo in seven pregnancies. Two of gestational sac in 12, and an empty uterus in four. A live embryo was seen in 78 pregnancies. Two of these pregnancies were terminated because of fetal chromosomal abnormalities. Of the remaining 76 pregnancies, 13 (17%) ended in a fetal loss (spontaneous abortion or fetal death) and 63 (83%) resulted in viable live births.

CONCLUSIONS

Among women with recurrent pregnancy loss the presence of a live embryo detected by first-trimester ultrasonography is not as encouraging as in normal pregnant women. These findings are useful in counseling patients with recurrent pregnancy loss.