Thromb Haemost 2004; 91(04): 694-699
DOI: 10.1160/TH03-09-0554
Blood Coagulation, Fibrinolysis and Cellular Haemostasis
Schattauer GmbH

Elevated coagulation factor VIII and the risk for recurrent early pregnancy loss

Astrid Dossenbach-Glaninger
1   Department of Laboratory Medicine, Rudolfstiftung Hospital, Vienna, Austria
,
Michael van Trotsenburg
2   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Gynecologic Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine, University of Vienna, Austria
,
Walter Krugluger
1   Department of Laboratory Medicine, Rudolfstiftung Hospital, Vienna, Austria
,
Martin R. Dossenbach
3   Eli Lilly and Company, Area Medical Center Vienna, Austria
,
Christian Oberkanins
4   ViennaLab GmbH, Vienna, Austria
,
Johannes Huber
2   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Gynecologic Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine, University of Vienna, Austria
,
Pierre Hopmeier
1   Department of Laboratory Medicine, Rudolfstiftung Hospital, Vienna, Austria
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received 01 September 2003

Accepted after revision 20 January 2004

Publication Date:
06 December 2017 (online)

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Summary

Inherited and acquired thrombophilia are associated with recurrent pregnancy loss. Recently, an increased risk for thromboembolic disease was described for patients with elevated coagulation factor VIII, but it is unknown whether there is also an association to early pregnancy loss. We therefore evaluated the relation between recurrent early pregnancy loss and levels of coagulation factor VIII. We enrolled 49 unrelated Caucasian women with a history of 2 6 early pregnancy losses and 48 healthy controls, who had delivered at least one term infant and had never experienced pregnancy loss. We determined factor V Leiden-, G20210A prothrombin-, MTHFR C677Tand A1298Cgene mutations, levels of antithrombin, protein C, protein S, factor VIII, C-reactive protein and antiphospholipid antibodies. There was a significantly higher rate of pregnancy losses in women with Antiphospholipid Syndrome (p = 0.043). Furthermore, plasma levels of coagulation factor VIII were significantly higher in cases than in controls (130.5 IU/dl ± 25.4 vs 119.5 IU/dl ± 24.1; p = 0.032) and appeared independent of Creactive protein (R = 0.146, p = 0.323 in cases; R = 0.028, p = 0.850 in controls). The relative risk for recurrent pregnancy loss in women with factor VIII levels above 151 IU/dl (90th percentile of controls) was 2.5 (0.7 – 8.9, 95 percent confidence interval), for levels above 156 IU/dl (95th percentile of controls) 3.9 (0.8 – 20.0, 95 percent confidence interval). Elevated maternal plasma levels of coagulation factor VIII tend to be associated with an increased risk for recurrent early pregnancy loss.