Study of Antiphospholipid syndrome in patients with bad obstetric history: A cross sectional study

Abstract

Aims and Objectives:To look for Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome in patients with Bad Obstetric History and to assess the correlation between anticardiolipin antibodies and bad obstetric history. Materials and Methods: This study was an Observational type of Cross sectional study carried out on 130 patients with Bad Obstetric History in non-pregnant state in Gynecology OPD of tertiary care centre, SDMH, Jaipur for one year (1 st May 2015 to 30 th April 2016). The patients were tested for APLA screen after atleast 12 weeks from their last pregnancy/miscarriage and were reassessed after 12 weeks. Depending upon the results the prevalence of APLA positivity was calculated and especially Anticardiolipin antibody positivity was studied. The results categorized the study population into cases (those who tested positive for APLA) and comparison group (those who tested negative for APLA) which were further studied regarding their obstetric history. Results: The prevalence of Antiphospholipid Syndrome in patients with Bad Obstetric History was found to be 27.69% while the prevalence of Anticardiolipin antibodies was 18.46% and fetal loss at <10 weeks of gestation was found to be the most common type of pregnancy loss amongst BOH patients and patients with APS. (83.08% and 75% respectively). Conclusion:The prevalence of Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome in patients with Bad Obstetric History is about 27.69% and the prevalence of Anticardiolipin antibodies alone contributes about 18.46%. Hence, all women with recurrent miscarriages should be screened before pregnancy for antiphospholipid antibodies, where all the conventional causes of miscarriages have been ruled out.