Activated protein C (APC) resistance, both in its congenital form, due to the factor V Leiden mutation, and in its acquired form, are important risk factors for systemic venous thrombosis. In view of the suspected thrombotic aetiology of some cases of recurrent miscarriage, the prevalence of APC resistance was determined among 1111 consecutive Caucasian women with a history of either recurrent early miscarriage (three or more consecutive pregnancy losses at <12 weeks gestation; n = 904) or a history of at least one late miscarriage (>12 weeks gestation; n = 207). A control group of 150 parous Caucasian women with no previous history of adverse pregnancy outcome was also studied. Acquired APC resistance was significantly more common among both women with recurrent early miscarriage (8.8%: 80/904; P = 0.02) and those with late miscarriage (8.7%: 18/207; P = 0.04) compared with controls (3.3%: 5/150). In contrast, the frequency of the factor V Leiden allele was similar among (i) women with recurrent early miscarriage (3.3%:60/1808; 58 heterozygotes and one homozygote), (ii) those with late miscarriage (3.9%:16/414; 14 heterozygotes and one homozygote) and (iii) the control group (4.0%:12/300; 12 heterozygotes). Acquired but not congenital APC resistance (due to the factor V Leiden mutation) is associated with both early and late miscarriage.
Tamoxifen and prior surgery, fracture, or immobilization were associated with a significantly increased risk of developing a VTE. Factor V Leiden and prothrombin mutations were not associated with thrombosis in this population.
Many recurrent pregnancy losses appear to have a thrombotic etiology. We have investigated the prevalence of the G20210A prothrombin gene mutation in 122 women with a history of three or more early (< or = 12 weeks gestation; n = 91), late (> 12 weeks gestation: n = 2), or mixed (n = 29) consecutive pregnancy losses. A control group of 66 healthy parous women with no history of thrombosis or miscarriage was also studied. Four heterozygotes that suffered only early pregnancy losses were detected in the patient group giving a prevalence of 3.3%. Three of the control group women were heterozygous for the mutation. giving a prevalence of 4.5% (p = 0.32: odds ratio 0.71: 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.15-3.27). When only Caucasians were analyzed, a prevalence of 3.9% (4/103) was observed in the patient group and 4.2% (2/48) in the control group (p = 0.28; odds ratio 0.89; 95% CI 0.16-5.05). The prevalence of the G20210A prothrombin gene mutation is not increased in women with recurrent miscarriage, although it was only found in women who had suffered early pregnancy losses. However, it remains possible that this mutation is relevant in a selected subgroup of women with recurrent miscarriage, additional thrombophilic defects, and in whom fetal loss is associated with placental infarction and thrombosis.
von Willebrand disease type 3 (VWD3) is a rare but the most severe form of von Willebrand disease; it is due to almost complete lack of von Willebrand factor activity (VWF:RCo). It is inherited as autosomal recessive trait; whilst heterozygote carriers have mild, or no symptoms, patients with VWD3 show severe bleeding symptoms. In the laboratory, this is characterised by undetectable VWF:Ag, VWF:RCo, and reduced levels of factor VIII < 0.02 IU/dL. The bleeding is managed with von Willebrand/FVIII factor concentrate replacement therapy. In this rare but challenging case we report on the successful excision and repair of an ascending aortic aneurysm following adequate VWF/FVIII factor concentrate replacement using Haemate-P.
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