In order to determine the role of different anti-phospholipid antibodies as an etiologic factor in recurrent pregnancy failure, a prospective study was done on one-hun-dred and thirty-eight women who had unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss (group I) with one-hundred well-matched women with normal reproductive outcome allocated as control group (GII).
Sera from 138 patients and 100 controls were analyzed for anticardiolipin antibody (ACLA) and lupus anticoagulant (LA). ACLA was measured by Elisa and LA by activated PTT.
Sixteen women (11.6%) had positive ACLA in group I, while 3 (3%) of group II were positive for this antibody (p= 0.0157 and odds ratio = 4.24).
LA was positive in 12(8.7%) of group I and 3(3%) of group II, but the difference was not significant (p= 0.074, odds ratio=3.08).
Overall 24 women (17.4%) were positive for one of the mentioned antibodies (p= 0.00055, OR= 6.81). Four patients were positive for both antibodies.
This study emphasizes the relationship between antiphospholipid syndrome and recurrent pregnancy failure.
