Clinical significance of nonspecificity of antiphospholipid antibodies in recurrent abortions and unexplained infertility

BACKGROUND: Antiphospholipid antibodies (APLA) are acquired autoantibodies directed to phospholipids which are associated with slow progressive thrombosis and infarction of placenta. Infertility and recurrent pregnancy loss may occur because of impaired trophoblast function, placental infarction, and abnormal blood clotting. AIM: To evaluate APLA (IgG and IgM) in cases of infertility and recurrent abortions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective study comprising 70 subjects was carried out. Fifty cases of unexplained infertility and recurrent abortions (25 each) constituted the study group. Twenty healthy multipara females of same reproductive age group constituted the control group. Venous blood samples were collected, and serum was analyzed for two types of APLA (IgG and IgM) by ELISA method. RESULTS: The mean IgM and IgG levels in recurrent abortions group were 8.10 MPL-U/ml and 6.17 GPL-U/ml, respectively whereas in control group, the levels were 4.67 MPL-U/ml and 4.53 GPL-U/ml, respectively. The difference was statistically nonsignificant. The mean IgM and IgG levels in unexplained infertility group were 7.30 MPL-U/ml and 6.12 GPL-U/ml, respectively whereas in control group, the levels were 4.67 MPL-U/ml and 4.53 GPL-U/ml, respectively. Again the difference was statistically nonsignificant. CONCLUSIONS: The present study concludes that there is no significance of raised APLA in cases of infertility and recurrent abortions.