Prevalence and heterogeneity of antiphosphatidylethanolamine antibodies in patients with recurrent early pregnancy losses

Objective: To describe the prevalence of antiphospholipid antibodies to both anionic and zwitterionic phospholipids in women with early recurrent pregnancy losses (RPLs). Design: Retrospective data analysis. Setting: Tokai University Hospital, Kanagawa, Japan. Patient(s): One hundred thirty-nine patients with unexplained early RPLs, Intervention(s): None. Main Outcome Measure(s): Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to measure autoantibodies to phosphatidylethanolamine, cardiolipin, and phosphatidylserine. Result(s): Twenty-eight (20.1%), 17 (12.2%), and 2 (1.4%) patients of the 139 total patients were positive for immunoglobulin (Ig) G, IgM, and IgA antiphosphatidylethanolamine antibodies, respectively. Because 3 patients had two isotypes, 44 (31.7%) of the patients were positive for antiphosphatidylethanolamine antibodies. Six patients (4.3%) and 1 patient (0.7%) were positive for IgG and IgM antiphosphatidylserine antibodies, respectively. Seven patients (5%) were positive for beta(2)-glycoprotein I-independent anticardiolipin IgG, and I patient was positive for beta(2)-glycoprotein I-dependent anticardiolipin IgG. Two patients (1.4%) had lupus anticoagulant. Conclusion(s): Our data show a statistically stronger association between RPLs and antiphosphatidylethanolamine antibodies than between RPLs and antibodies to anionic phospholipids for early gestational losses. Our data suggest that antiphosphatidylethanolamine antibodies may be a risk factor in patients with early RPLs. (Fertil Steril(R) 1999,71:1060-5. (C) 1999 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.).