Insulin resistance in women with recurrent spontaneous miscarriage of unknown aetiology

The objective of this study was to explore the role of insulin resistance in women with recurrent spontaneous miscarriage (RSM). Patients with > or =3 consecutive spontaneous miscarriages were classified as having RSM.

Thirty-five non-pregnant women presenting with RSM in our specialized RSM clinic constituted the study population, while 30 non-pregnant, parous, fertile women without RSM served as controls. The study and control patients were matched for age, ethnicity and body mass index (BMI). Blood was extracted from these patients for fasting blood glucose and fasting insulin simultaneously, and a battery of investigations including ultrasonography was performed on all the patients with RSM.

There was no significant difference in the mean fasting glucose for the study and control patients (5.5 +/- 0.7 vs. 5.3 +/- 0.6 mmol/dl) and in the mean fasting insulin (15.0 +/- 5.1 and 12.9 +/- 2.9 mU/l). There was a significant difference between the mean parity of the study and control patients (0.7 +/- 0.7 vs. 1.7 +/- 0.5, p < 0.0001) and also the mean number of miscarriages (4.2 +/- 1.2 vs. 0.1 +/- 0.4, p < 0.0001). There was, however, no significant difference in the insulin resistance of both groups as calculated using the Homeostasis Model Assessment and the fasting glucose insulin ratio of <4.5.

Insulin resistance was not significantly associated with RSM in our study. Further studies may be needed.