Antinuclear and antiphospholipid antibodies in healthy women with recurrent spontaneous abortion

To determine the presence of absence of subclinical autoimmunity in healthy women with first trimester recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA), the sera of 72 healthy women with a history of three or more consecutive abortions were analyzed for the presence of antibodies to phospholipid and nuclear antigens.

Lupus anticoagulant was determined, as were antibodies to cardiolipin. An indirect immunofluorescent antinuclear test was performed and specific antinuclear antibodies to double-stranded DNA, ribonucleoprotein, Smith antigen, and Sjogren's syndrome A and B antigens were tested.

Nine women (13.2%) had low levels of antinuclear antibodies, none of which were specific. Four women (5.6%) had moderate to high levels of aCL antibodies.

We conclude that the prevalence of aCLs and antinuclear antibodies in healthy women with first trimester RSA is low. Subclinical autoimmunity is not a common cause of first trimester RSA.