Objective To examine the reproducibility of the diagnosis of congenital uterine anomalies and the repeatability of measurements of uterine cavity dimensions using threedimensional (3D) ultrasound. Methods

The distortion of uterine anatomy is more severe in congenital anomalies, which are found in women with a history of recurrent first trimester miscarriage.

Activated protein C (APC) resistance, both in its congenital form, due to the factor V Leiden mutation, and in its acquired form, are important risk factors for systemic venous thrombosis. In view of the suspected thrombotic aetiology of some cases of recurrent miscarriage, the prevalence of APC resistance was determined among 1111 consecutive Caucasian women with a history of either recurrent early miscarriage (three or more consecutive pregnancy losses at <12 weeks gestation; n = 904) or a history of at least one late miscarriage (>12 weeks gestation; n = 207). A control group of 150 parous Caucasian women with no previous history of adverse pregnancy outcome was also studied. Acquired APC resistance was significantly more common among both women with recurrent early miscarriage (8.8%: 80/904; P = 0.02) and those with late miscarriage (8.7%: 18/207; P = 0.04) compared with controls (3.3%: 5/150). In contrast, the frequency of the factor V Leiden allele was similar among (i) women with recurrent early miscarriage (3.3%:60/1808; 58 heterozygotes and one homozygote), (ii) those with late miscarriage (3.9%:16/414; 14 heterozygotes and one homozygote) and (iii) the control group (4.0%:12/300; 12 heterozygotes). Acquired but not congenital APC resistance (due to the factor V Leiden mutation) is associated with both early and late miscarriage.

Objective To study the obstetric course of women with a history of recurrent miscarriage associated with antiphospholipid antibodies, lupus anticoagulant and anticardiolipin antibodies, treated with low dose aspirin and low dose heparin.Design Prospective observational study.Setting University based tertiary referral clinic.Population One hundred and fifty pregnant women with a history of recurrent miscamage associated with persistently positive tests for antiphospholipid antibodies.Methods Lupus anticoagulant was detected using the dilute Russell's viper venom time together with a platelet neutralisation procedure. IgG and IgM anticardiolipin antibodies were detected using a standardised enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. An IgG anticardiolipin level 2 5 per litre units and an IgM anticardiolipin level 2 3 per litre units was considered positive. Aspirin (75 mg daily) was commenced at the time of a positive pregnancy test and heparin (5000 units subcutaneously 12 hourly, or enoxaparin 20 mg daily) was started when fetal heart activity was demonstrated on ultrasound. Treatment was stopped at the time of miscamage or at 34 weeks of gestation.Results One hundred and seven pregnancies (7 1 %) resulted in a live birth. Forty-one pregnancies (27%) miscarried, the majority in the first trimester. One woman had a stillbirth, and one a premature baby whq died in the neonatal period. One pregnancy was terminated for a fetal anomaly. Gestational hypertension complicated 17% (1 8/108) of ongoing pregnancies and antepartum haemorrhage 7% (8/108). Twenty-six babies (24%) were delivered before 37 weeks of gestation. Fifty women (46%) were delivered by caesarean section. The median birthweight of all live born infants was 3069 g (range 5314300); however 15% (16/108) of the infants were small for gestational age. ConclusionCombination treatment with aspirin and heparin leads to a high live birth rate among women with recurrent miscamage and antiphospholipid antibodies. However, successful pregnancies are prone to a high risk of complications during all trimesters. Close antenatal surveillance and planned delivery of these pregnancies in a unit with specialist obstetric and neonatal intensive care facilities are indicated.