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Fertility / Infertility (Expert Forum)
Clotting factor and multiple miscarriages
Questions in the Fertility/Infertility forum are answered by doctors affiliated with USF Health. Topics covered include fertility or infertility issues, egg quality, fertility drugs and side effects, fertility tests, genetic testing, in-vitro fertilization (IVF), ovulation, relationship issues, risk factors, sperm count/quality, and surgery.
Clotting factor and multiple miscarriages
by nwmom, Mar 16, 2007 12:00AM
I just had my 2nd m/c (blighted ovums) in a row and my dr did some bloodwork and said that I may have a clotting factor. My antithrombin antigen came back at 147, protein c antigen was 145 and homocysteine was slightly low at 4.6. They have referred me to a hemotologist. I'm scheduled to go early next month to have more testing done but wanted to know a little more about clotting factors during pregnancy and what it could mean when trying to have more children. My ob said that a lot of times they will just give you baby asprin during pregnancy. Could you give me a little more insight on the subject? For instance, why it could possibly cause a m/c, what it could do to your baby if you do get pregnant and stay pregnant and are there any risks? Thank you for your time.
Doctor's Answer
by Forum-M.D.-SP, Apr 10, 2007 12:00AM
The levels you are providing are normal. If anything, low levels of antithrombin III and protein C are associated with miscarriages. If anything, a high homocysteine, not a normal value, is concerning. Some infertility specialists believe that abnormalities in some of the proteins that control the rate at which our blood clots can lead to miscarriages. This is a controversial area. Baby aspirin is sometimes used; blood thinning medicines are sometimes used, but rare, and only if there is a clear abnormality. In addition to a hematologist, I would recommend seeing a reproductive endocrinologist -a reproductive endocrinologist would be able to put all of this into perspective.
