Anti β₂-Glycoprotein I Antibodies in Women with Recurrent Spontaneous Abortion

Problem statement: Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) are associated with repeated miscarriages and pregnancy complications, however their pathogenic mechanisms are still matter of research. Anti-β₂ glycoprotein 1 (β₂GPI) antibody is one of these aPL that its contribution to RSA risk remains poorly understood. There were not any data about role this auto-antibody in RSA in South of Iran. This study was conducted to assess Anti- β₂GPI IgM and IgG as RSA risk factors for RSA in this area of Iran. Approach: This case-control study was carried out in gynecology special hospital of Hormozgan University of medical sciences, during 2004-2005. A number of 250 women with >3 consecutive idiopathic pregnancy losses as a case group and 200 age matched women with normal full term delivery and negative history of miscarriage as a controls were studied. All obtained sera from the case and the control groups were tested using an Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) method for detection of anti-β₂GPI IgM and IgG. Data was analyzed, using SAS 8 statistical software (chi square and t-test). Results: There were significant differences between the prevalence of positive anti-β₂GPI IgM (p = 0.01) and IgG (p = 0.02) in the case group and the control group. A positive significant relationship was observed in the case group between number of abortion and seropositivity for anti-β₂GPI IgG (p = 0.028, r = +0.181) and anti-β₂GPI IgM (p = 0.0381, r = +0.014). Conclusion: This study showed anti-β₂GPI antibodies are important causative agent for RSA in this area of Iran.