Thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) is not associated with recurrent miscarriage.

AIM(S): The present study aimed to discover whether there is an association between thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) antigen levels and recurrent miscarriage (RM). In particular, TAFI antigen levels of women with RM were compared with those of a control group of women with previous uncomplicated pregnancies. METHOD(S): Group 1 comprised 48 women with RM, defined as the occurrence of two or more fetal losses before 20 weeks of gestation. Group 2 (the control group) was made up of 40 women who had undergone at least two healthy pregnancies and had no history of miscarriage. Group 1 was then stratified in to two groups according to the number of pregnancy losses and group 1A (2 pregnancy losses) consisted of 22 women whereas group 1B (three or more pregnancy losses) consisted of 26 women. RESULTS: No difference was observed with regard to serum TAFI antigen levels between groups 1 and 2. There was also no statistical difference in serum TAFI antigen levels between group 1A and group 1B. CONCLUSION: The findings of the current study indicated that TAFI antigen levels are not associated with RM. Further multi-centric research with more subjects is needed to better evaluate the role of TAFI in RM.

The effect of low-dose combined oral contraceptive containing 100 ug levonorgestrel on plasma plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 concentrations.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the current study was to investigate the effect of a combined oral contraceptive (COC) containing 20 ug ethinyl estradiol (EE) and 100 ug levonorgestrel (LNG) which is currently used on plasma plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) concentrations. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-five women who had not used any COC for at least three months before the initiation of the study were enrolled in the control group. Twenty women who had been using COC containing 20 ug EE and 100 ug levonorgestrel LNG for at least three months prior to the study were enrolled in the LNG/EE group. Serum samples for PAI-1 and other biochemical parameters were obtained at the early follicular phase (cycle day 2-5). RESULTS: No significant difference was observed in PAl- 1 concentrations between the LNG/EE and control group (group LNG/EE: 62.4 +/- 30.2 ng/ml; control group: 58.7 +/- 26.0 ng/ml). CONCLUSION: Although we observed similar PAI-1 concentrations in both groups, there is need for further interventions to evaluate the clinical relevance of our findings.

Pro-inflammatory cytokine response of the fluid contents of spermatoceles and epididymal cysts.

The aim of the study was to determine the cellular contents and concentrations of interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin 8 (IL-8) and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) in fluids of patients with spermatocele or epididymal cyst. Twenty-five symptomatic patients, 14 with epididymal cysts and 11 with spermatoceles, were included in the study. Fluids were obtained during surgical excision of the cysts and cytological smears were stained with May-Gruenwald-Giemsa to establish cell components. The concentrations of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-alpha were measured by chemiluminescent immunometric assay. Cytological analysis of the fluids demonstrated various sperm forms ranging from immature germ cells to degenerated spermatozoa without inflammatory cells such as neutrophils and macrophages. The concentrations (mean+/- SEM, pg/mg protein) of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-alpha were 13.52 +/- 1.40, 22.20 +/- 2.43, 3.51 +/- 1.43 in spermatocele fluids and 5.76 +/- 0.48, 11.57 +/- 1.89, 2.53 +/- 0.41 in epididymal cyst fluids. Both IL-6 and IL-8 concentrations in the spermatocele group were higher than in the epididymal cyst group (P < 0.0001). There were no differences in TNF-alpha concentrations between the groups (P > 0.05). These findings indicate that local production of pro-inflammatory cytokines is involved in cyst formation. The presence of immunologic activation in these fluids advocates a policy of selective surgical intervention in patients with spermatocele or epididymal cyst.