Correlation between leptin and leptin binding activity in women with recurrent miscarriage and pregnancy outcome

This study was conducted to determine plasma leptin and leptin binding activity [LBA] concentrations during the first trimester in women who had a history of at least three miscarriages and correlate their levels with the subsequent outcome for these pregnant women. Prospective selective study. Al zahraa university antenatal outpatient clinic from March 2002 till October 2004. The study was conducted on 43 pregnant women who had a history of recurrent first trimester miscarriage, plasma leptin and leptin-binding activity [LBA] were measured during weeks 5-6 and 7-8 of pregnancy, and the concentrations were correlated with subsequent pregnancy outcome. Concentrations of leptin ranged from 1.4-62.8 ng/ml, but there was a strong correlation [r = 0.820, P < 0.001] between leptin values at week 5-6 and 7-8 in the same woman. Women who subsequently miscarried had significantly lower plasma leptin concentrations on both weeks 5-6 [13.32 +/- 2.2 ng/ml] [P < 0.05] and 7-8 [13.72 +/- 2.3 ng/ml] [P <0.01] of pregnancy, than women who subsequently had a term birth [22.06 +/- 3.68 ng/ml] at week 5-6, and [24.74 +/- 3.66 ng/ml] at week 7-8. LBA values ranged from 1-8.5% but there was no significant difference in LBA in blood obtained from women who subsequently miscarried or had a live birth. The significantly lower concentrations of leptin in women who subsequently miscarried suggest that leptin may play a role in preventing miscarriage. However as there was a considerable overlap between the values of leptin in women who subsequently miscarried, and those that had a live birth, these measurements are of limited use in the prediction of pregnancy outcome in these women

Midtrimester dyslipidemia and early onset pre-eclampsia

Pre eclampsia is believed to be a disorder of vascular endothelium. Early onset pre eclampsia exhibits features that are unusual in late onset disease. The aim of this study was to investigate whether hypertriglyceridemic dyslipidemia is a risk factor for either early or late onset pre eclampsia. The samples examined were 300 pregnant non diabetic with signgleton pregnancies during their second trimester between 16 - 24 weeks, blood samples were obtained from fasting subjects at 18 weeks of gestation. All samples were analysed for triglycerides, total cholesterol, high density lipo proteins cholesterol and low density lipo proteins cholesterol: ApOB-100 were in pre eclamptic women in matched controls. The main outcome measures adjusted odds ratios of early and late onset pre-eclampsia according to early second trimester serum concentration levels of lipids and ApOB 100. Nine women developed early onset pre eclampsia and 26 women developed late onset pre-eclampsia. In the Cohort model, women with triglycerides above 2.4 mmol/L has increased risk [OR5.1; 95% CI 1.1 - 23.1] of early onset pre eclampsia compared with those with triglycerides levels 90 centile] the OR [95% CI] for early onset pre-eclampsia was 7.1 [2.3 - 22.0] compared with those with low ratios [

prevalence of activated protein C resistance in patients with repeated fetal losses

This study was conducted for the prevalence of activated protein C resistance [APCR] on 20 patients with past history of recurrent fetal losses in their first trimester, 13 patients in their second trimester and 20 women with no past history of fetal losses taken as controls. All women were negative for rubella, toxoplasma, cardiolipins IgG and IgM. All patients and controls had normal coagulation profile as regards prothrombin time, APTT, protein C activity, total protein S and antithrombin III. APCR was done for all groups. The prevalence of phenotypic APCR in the first trimester fetal loss group was 5%, while it was 23% in the second trimester fetal loss group. APCR is 5-10 times more common than any of the other known inherited deficiencies of anticoagulant proteins