SummaryThe prevalence of haemostasis abnormalities was evaluated in 500 consecutive women with unexplained primary recurrent miscarriages. Two matched reference groups with no antecedent of miscarriage were studied: 100 healthy mothers and 50 childless women.In the prospective part of the study, we found 9.4% of the patients (95% C.I.: 6.8-12%) with an isolated factor XII deficiency, 7.4% of the patients (5.0-9.8%) with primary antiphopholipid antibodies, 47% of the patients (42.6-51.4%) with an insufficient response to the venous occlusion test and an isolated hypofibri- nolysis was found in 42.6% (38.2-47%) of the patients (reference groups: respectively 0/150, 3/150, 2/150, 2/150, pclO’3). Willebrand disease, fibrinogen deficiency, antithrombin, protein C or protein S deficiencies were not more frequent in recurrent aborters than in members of the reference groups. In the retrospective part of the study, cases of plasma resistance to activated protein C were not abnormally frequent.Patients had higher Willebrand factor antigen (vWF), tissue-type plasminogen activator antigen (t-PA), plasminogen activator inhibitor activity (PAI) and D-dimers (D-Di) than the reference women. Values of vWF, t-PA, PAI and D-Di were altogether correlated but were not related to C-reactive protein concentrations. Among patients, those with an antiphospholipid syndrome and those with an insufficient response to the venous occlusion test had higher vWF, t-PA, PAI and D-Di values than the patients with none of the haemostasis-related abnormalities.Thus, factor XII deficiency and hypofibrinolysis (mainly high PAI) are the most frequent haemostasis-related abnormalities found in unexplained primary recurrent aborters. In patients with antiphospholipid antibodies or hypofibrinolysis, there is a non-inflammatory ongoing chronic elevation of markers of endothelial stimulation associated with coagulation activation. This should allow to define subgroups of patients for future therapeutic trials.

SummaryAn impaired fibrinolytic capacity, defined as an insufficient venous occlusion-induced shortening of the plasma euglobulin clot lysis time, is a common feature in women suffering from primary early recurrent unexplained miscarriages (1,2). We investigated the therapeutic effect of a low-molecular-weight heparin and of a phenformin-like substance.In a prospective, randomized trial, 30 consecutive patients initially received either enoxaparin, 20 mg per day during one month, or moroxydine chloride, 1200 mg per day during one month. In case of fibrinolytic status normalization, they were treated during 6 months by the beneficial treatment which was planned to be continued during eventual pregnancies. Patients with hypofibrinolysis persistence received the alternative treatment during another month and a new evaluation was performed. No treatment was given when a persistent abnormal response to the venous occlusion test was evidenced. In case of positive response, the treatment was continued during 6 months. The primary study end-points consisted of any of the following: effect of the treatments on the fibrinolytic response; number of patients becoming pregnant during the 6 months following the last venous occlusion test; number of full-term pregnancies.Concerning the effects on the fibrinolytic system, 20 out of 29 women responded to the first or second-line enoxaparin treatment whereas only 1 woman out of 19 responded to moroxydine chloride (p=0.00002). Concerning the effects on fertility, responders to LMWH were more likely to initiate a new pregnancy than non-responders (16/20 vs 2/10, p=0.002). In patients conceiving, LMWH responders were more likely to obtain live births than nonresponders (13/16 vs. 0/2, p=0.02). The 9 women who had not responded to both treatments and the one who had responded to moroxydine chloride are still childless. Thirteen of the 20 previously childless women who had responded to enoxaparin had a successful pregnancy whilst taking the low-molecular weight heparin (p=0.0009).The low-molecular weight heparin enoxaparin was associated with successful pregnancies in patients with recurrent unexplained miscarriages associated with an impaired fibrinolytic capacity.

Service de gyntcologie-obstetrique, HBpital Carremeau, Nimes, France A novel human-voltage-dependent-calcium-channel (VDCC) P subunit was isolated from a 9-week-old human total-embryo cDNA library. Of the four genes encoding P-subunit isoforms that have been identified in-animal species, this isoform shares strong similarity with the rat and rabbit &-related gene product and is referred to here as HP3 subunit. The HP3 isoform is the second P subunit identified in human. Its open reading frame encodes a 482-amino-acid protein with a predicted molecular mass of 54.571 kDa. The Hp3 mRNA is expressed mostly in brain, smooth muscle and ovary. The gene for the human Hp, was specifically localized on chromosome 12q13. The cloned HP, subunit was further expressed in Xenopus oocytes to demonstrate its ability to modulate VDCC activity.

Our objective was to make recommendations for the follow-up of pregnancies and the choice of delivery route for patients becoming pregnant after surgical treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) by tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) or trans-obturator tape (TOT). We performed a retrospective survey on pregnancies after surgical treatment of SUI. Nineteen physicians out of 3,400 contacted reported a total of 20 pregnancies after TVT or TOT. Three patients had recurrent SUI during pregnancy. No major complications of the tape occurred during pregnancy. Ten patients out of 20 delivered vaginally, and nine had a caesarean section. Mean follow-up after delivery was 13.8 months (1 to 52). Recurrence of SUI was observed in 3 of 20 (15%) during pregnancy and in 3 of 18 (16.7%) after delivery. The global rate of recurrence was 4 of 18 (22.2%). Recurrence of SUI was two of ten cases after vaginal delivery (20%) and in one of eight after caesarean section (12.5%; p=0.58). Vaginal delivery did not increase the risk of recurrence.

Aims To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the Uphold LITE mesh in the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse at 12‐month follow‐up. Methods Women undergoing a mesh surgery due to an anterior prolapse plus a symptomatic anterior prolapse (classed as pelvic organ prolapse quantification stage ≥2) were included in this prospective, multicentre, observational study. The primary endpoint was a composite outcome including a good anatomical correction, no prolapse symptoms, and no reintervention for an anterior or apical recurrent prolapse within 12 months of surgery. Secondary outcomes included safety, improvements in quality of life (QoL), and risk factor for recurrence. This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01559168. Results A total of 121 patients were included. Symptomatic and anatomic cure rates were 94% (95 of 101) and 76.8% (76 of 99), respectively. The composite success rate was 72.4% (71 of 98). The rate of reoperation for apical or anterior recurrent prolapse was 3.9% (4 of 103). Anatomical anterior or apical recurrence occurred in 18.2% (18 of 97) and 7.2% (7 of 97) of patients, respectively. The composite success rate was significantly higher in centres where more than 30 patients had been treated (80% vs 50%; P = .045). The rate of serious complication was 5.4% (6 of 111). Improvements were recorded in QoL including sexual function. Conclusions The Uphold LITE mesh procedure provides satisfactory outcomes in the treatment of anterior and apical prolapse, particularly in high‐volume centres. The rates of adverse effects and reintervention for recurrent prolapse were acceptable.