DIAGNOSTIC AND PROGNOSTIC-SIGNIFICANCE OF ANTICARDIOLIPIN ANTIBODIES IN PATIENTS WITH RECURRENT SPONTANEOUS-ABORTIONS

PROBLEM: The role of ACA in unexplained RSA is controversial. In the p resent study, diagnostic and prognostic aspects were investigated. MET HOD: One hundred five nonpregnant patients with primary, 29 with secon dary RSA, and 209 controls were investigated for IgG-ACA. Follow-up st udies were done during pregnancy in 76 individuals. IgM-ACA were teste d in a subset of patients. RESULTS: Elevated ACA levels were significa ntly more frequent in both patient groups (26 and 24%) than in control s (16%). However, there was no correlation of ACA with various paramet ers including pregnancy outcome. In ACA-positive patients with success ful pregnancy a significant decrease of ACA values during pregnancy wa s observed, while ACA remained high in aborting patients. IgG- and IgM -ACA correlated well. CONCLUSIONS: Although the data from nonpregnant RSA patients does not allow diagnostic or prognostic conclusions to be drawn, sequential testing of ACA-positive individuals provides the po ssibility to foresee pregnancy outcome.