Intravenous immunoglobulin for the secondary prevention of stillbirth in obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome: A case series and systematic review of literature.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) in secondary prevention of pregnancy complications for patients with obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) and history of stillbirth.

METHODS

We described three cases of obstetric APS patients with history of stillbirth treated with IVIg in four pregnancies. In addition, we conducted a systematic literature review on the use of IVIg in obstetric APS with history of stillbirth.

RESULTS

Three patients with obstetric APS and history of stillbirth were treated with prophylactic IVIg, in addition to standard treatment (hydroxychloroquine, low-dose aspirin, low molecular weight heparin, and prednisone), in four pregnancies (three singleton and one twin). All pregnancies resulted in live healthy newborns. Long-term follow-up re-evaluations (24-53 months) did not shown any sign or symptom of active systemic disease, and the children were healthy. The systematic literature review retrieved only three cases of use of IVIg in obstetric APS patients with history of stillbirth. All three cases resulted in live healthy newborns. Only in one case, mild thrombocytopenia occurred during treatment, although this event was unlikely to be related to IVIg.

CONCLUSION

Our experience suggests that IVIg as secondary prevention of APS-related stillbirth is associated with good pregnancy and long-term outcomes, with no relevant safety concerns. However, the literature evidence on this topic is limited to few isolated cases, and further studies are needed to clarify which obstetric APS patients may benefit the most from IVIg.