A preliminary study of antiphospholipid antibodies in 50 cases of bad obstetric history.

The prevalence of the antiphospholipid antibodies in certain high risk groups like bad obstetric history is higher than previously realized. A pilot study in 50 patients of bad obstetric history, for the presence of lupus anticoagulant and anticardiolipin antibodies was carried out to establish an association between the presence of the antiphospholipid antibodies and recurrent fetal wastage. Lupus anticoagulant alone was positive in six patients (12%) and anticardiolipin antibody alone was positive in 14 patients (28%), while both lupus anticoagulant and anticardiolipin antibodies were positive in three patients (6%). Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and prothrombin time (PT) were not significantly prolonged. Platelet count was normal in all the patients. We conclude that lupus anticoagulant as based on kaolin clotting time and anticardiolipin antibodies are important tests to detect the etiology of fetal wastage.