ANTIBODIES TO OXIDIZED LOW-DENSITY-LIPOPROTEIN AND TO CARDIOLIPIN IN NONPREGNANT AND PREGNANT-WOMEN WITH HABITUAL ABORTION

Objective: To determine the occurrence of antibodies to oxidized low-d ensity lipoprotein (LDL) in women with a history of habitual abortion before and during pregnancy. Design: Immunoglobulin G class antibodies to malondialdehyde modified LDL were determined by a solid-phase ELIS A in 42 habitual aborters before pregnancy, in 39 patients during preg nancy, and in 23 comparable nonpregnant and 22 pregnant control women without a history of abortion. In addition, we assessed the presence o f anticardiolipin antibodies by ELISA in the same sera. Setting: Depar tments I and II of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Central Hospi tal of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. Results: Early pregnancy was accom panied by a decrease in the median levels of antibodies to oxidized LD L both in habitual aborters and in the control series. Only one patien t exhibited a raised level of antibodies to oxidized LDL before pregna ncy but, during pregnancy, nine patients (23%) had elevated levels of antibodies to oxidized LDL, similar to women with a favorable outcome of pregnancy (6/27, 22%) and in women whose current pregnancy also end ed in abortion (3/12, 25%). Cardiolipin binding antibodies were detect ed in three habitual aborters before pregnancy (7%) and in nine women during pregnancy (23%), with a tendency to be more frequent in patient s with miscarrying pregnancies than in those with continuing pregnanci es (4/12, 33% and 5/27, 19%). Antibodies to oxidized LDL and cardiolip in were simultaneously present in three habitual aborters with continu ing pregnancies. Conclusions: Increased levels of antibodies to oxidiz ed LDL and cardiolipin may be associated with habitual abortion.