Circulating Microparticles Study in Lusaka, ZAMBIA

Spontaneous abortion in Zambia is defined as non-induced embryonic death or passage of products of conception before 28 weeks gestation. Circulating microparticles are minute sized particles associated with prothrombotic nature, that may be directly or indirectly associated with pregnancy loss. With abortion cases accounting for approximately 80% of cases presenting at the Obstetrics and Gynaecology emergency ward at The University Teaching Hospital, the objective of this study was to determine if circulating microparticles are associated with the risk of recurrent abortion.18 women with 2/> recurrent abortions were enrolled in a case-control study and compared with 55 parous women. Microparticles were measured in platelet poor plasma by flow cytometry. Data was analysed by unpaired t-test and logistic regression. Increased microparticles in 4/18 women with recurrent abortions (22%), as compared to 2/55 parous women (4%), t(20)=2.49, P=0.022, 95% CI 182.20-16.09.The increased levels of microparticles in women with 2/> unexplained pregnancy losses supports emerging evidence that microparticles have a role to play in abortion, however, more studies required to confirm findings.