Problem: To investigate risk factors that can help identify the possibility of pregnancy loss in threatened late miscarriage (TLM) patients with and without spontaneous uterine contractions.
Method of study: Amniotic immune biomarkers (IL2β receptor, IL6, IL8, IL10, IL1β, and TNFα) were assayed, and "sludge" was assessed. Patients without intrauterine infections were treated and followed up until delivery, and pregnancy outcomes were recorded. The two groups were compared for the differences in biomarker levels and "sludge," and the independent associations of biomarkers, "sludge," and other maternal factors with late miscarriage were investigated.
Results: The amniotic levels of IL2βR, IL8, and TNFα were higher in the group with contractions (P < .05). When considered alone, each of the six biomarkers was significantly associated with late miscarriage in the no-contractions group and four of these (IL8, IL10, IL1β, and TNFα) in the contractions group (P < .05). Biomarker levels were correlated, and in multivariate Cox regression analysis, there was an independent effect only for IL8 in the no-contractions group (HR = 18.16, 95% CI: 5.75-57.43) and TNFα in the contractions group (HR = 4.11, 95% CI: 1.68-10.08). For patients with contractions, IL10, IL8, and IL1β were different in those with and without "sludge," but no such difference was seen in the no-contractions group.
Conclusion: For TLM patients without intrauterine infections, amniotic immune biomarkers differ between patients with different symptoms, not only for their levels but also for the impact of these biomarkers on the risk of late miscarriage. These findings suggest that the symptoms of TLM should be considered in the study of miscarriage risk.
Keywords: IL6; IL8; amniotic fluid sludge; independent risk factors; threatened late miscarriage; transvaginal ultrasound.
© 2020 The Authors. American Journal of Reproductive Immunology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.