Circulating Micro particles: a Risk Factorfor Recurrent Abortion in Women at theUniversity Teaching Hospital, Lusaka,Zambia

Background: Circulating micro particles are minute particles associated with prothrombotic nature found to be increased in the uteroplacental circulation in pregnancy, as such micro particles may be directly or indirectly associated with pregnancy loss. With abortion cases accounting for approximately 80% of cases at the Obstetrics and Gynaecology emergency ward at The University Teaching Hospital, this study aimed to determine if circulating micro particles are associated with the risk of recurrent abortion.\r\nMethods: A case-control study enrolled 18 women with two or more recurrent abortions and 55 parous women as controls. After counselling performed by a trained mid-wife, a blood sample was collected in a citrated container and platelet poor plasma isolated. Micro particles were measured by flow cytometry using fluorescent annexin V-fluorescence isothiocyanate conjugate.\r\nResults: Increased micro particle levels was defined as more than 2 standard deviation above the mean of controls. The mean found was 202/μl in 4 of the 18 women with recurrent abortions (22%), as opposed to 2 of the 55 parous women (4%), t(20)=2.49, P=0.022, 95% CI 182.20-16.09.\r\nConclusions: The increased micro particles levels in women with recurrent abortions supports emerging evidence that micro particles have a role to play in abortion.