Role of coagulation factor XII in unexplained recurrent abortions in the Greek population

To investigate the prevalence and clinical significance of congenital factor XII (FXII) deficiency in the South-European Caucasian (Greek) population in a cohort of women with recurrent spontaneous abortions (RSAs).

One hundred women with a history of > or =2 RSAs of unexplained nature were compared to 100 age-matched, healthy controls with no history of thrombotic disease or adverse pregnancy outcomes, regarding FXII activity. Women were included in the RSA group if they had normal coagulation parameters and no congenital or acquired thrombophilia.

Fifteen of 100 women with RSA had reduced FXII activity, whereas all controls had normal FXII activity. FXII activity was significantly lower in the RSA than in the control group (median 100.5, range 10-150 vs. median 104.2, range 58.3-143.2, p < 0.016 by Mann-Whitney test). FXII activity was positively correlated with age in both the RSA and the control groups (r = +0.1, p = 0.04 and r = +0.04, p = 0.2, respectively), but this correlation reached statistical significance in the RSA group only. A negative correlation between FXII activity and the number of abortions in the RSA group was found (r = -0.2, p = 0.03).

Congenital FXII deficiency is strongly associated with RSA in the Greek population.