Activated Thromboplastin Time In Women With Recurrent Spontaneous Abortions

Abstract

Haemostatic abnormalities have been associated with various complications of pregnancy. Information regarding haemostasis and recurrent abortion is scanty in Nigerian women. In this study, we aimed at assessing haemostasis in pregnant women with recurrent spontaneous abortions using the Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (APTT). The APTT tests were performed on 23 pregnant women with prior history of recurrent abortions and, on two control groups comprising 50 healthy pregnant women and 50 non-pregnant women. The pregnant groups were all in second or third trimester of pregnancy. Six (24%) of the women with recurrent spontaneous abortions had shortened APTT (<32 seconds), 3 (12%) had prolonged values (> 40 seconds) while 16 (64%) had normal values (30 – 40 seconds). Nine (18%) and 7 (14%) of the pregnant control had shortened and prolonged values respectively. One (2%) of the non- pregnant control had shortened APTT while 2 (4%) had prolonged APTT. There was a statistically significant difference between the mean APTT values of patients with recurrent spontaneous abortions and non- pregnant control (p = 0.0187). We conclude that the APTT in recurrent spontaneous abortions is not significantly different from that of normal pregnant women. However, it is abnormal when compared with non-pregnant women. Pregnant women with history of recurrent spontaneous abortions should therefore be routinely screened for haemostatic abnormalities.

Keywords: APTT, Haemostasis Spontaneous recurrent abortions, Benin City

Annals of Biomedical Science Vol. 2 (1) 2003: pp. 42-46