Autoimmunity and pregnancy loss

Clinicians have recognized for several decades that certain autoimmune conditions, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), are associated with pregnancy loss. During the 1980s, investigations focused attention on fetal wastage in women with antiphospholipid antibodies and the antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS) was characterized. Its defining features include fetal wastage in the presence of significant levels of anticardiolipin antibodies. Since that time, interest in other autoimmune diatheses and various specific autoantibodies as possible causes of pregnancy loss has increased. Investigators have attempted to establish an association between recurrent pregnancy loss and the presence of a specific autoantibody or patterns of autoantibodies. Thus far, only modest evidence supports the concept that other autoantibodies are linked to, much less cause, pregnancy loss. In this review, we will define pregnancy loss in its various forms and discuss pregnancy loss in well-characterized autoimmune diseases such as SLE and APS. We will focus on the diagnosis and management of these conditions in women attempting to achieve successful pregnancies. Later we discuss the evidence concerning the less well defined association of antiphospholipid antibodies other than the lupus anticoagulant and anticardiolipin antibodies to recurrent pregnancy loss. We then outline the significance of antinuclear antibodies and antithyroid antibodies pertaining to adverse pregnancy outcome and conclude by summarizing and making some suggestions for further study.