Is factor V Leiden a risk factor for fetal loss?

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Medicine
• Genetics
• Obstetrics

Background:

• Adequate placental circulation is crucial for successful pregnancy.
• Placental vasculature abnormalities can lead to gestational pathologies, including fetal loss.
• Factor V Leiden is a genetic mutation that can affect blood clotting.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if women with Factor V Leiden have an increased risk of pregnancy loss.
• To assess the association between Factor V Leiden and spontaneous abortions.
• To evaluate the frequency of fetal loss in women with and without Factor V Leiden.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study examined 30 women with spontaneous abortions for Factor V Leiden.
• A retrospective study assessed abortion frequency in 80 women with Factor V Leiden (heterozygous and homozygous).
• A control group of 45 women without Factor V Leiden was evaluated for comparison.

Main Results:

• Factor V Leiden was identified in 3% of women in the prospective group.
• Fetal loss occurred in 10% of women with Factor V Leiden in the retrospective group.
• Fetal loss occurred in 9% of women in the control group.

Conclusions:

• Factor V Leiden was not found to be a significant risk factor for fetal loss in this study group.
• The study suggests that Factor V Leiden may not contribute to increased pregnancy loss.
• Further research may be needed to fully elucidate the role of Factor V Leiden in pregnancy outcomes.