aCL and pregnancy

  I have had nine pregnancies - two single births and twin birth - plus six miscarriages.  I experience the last miscarriage one week ago.  In Sept 96 after suffering miscarriage at7 weeks, I underwent severl blood tests and cultures.  Today at my followup vist I learned that my anticardio lipid level was elevated.  Previously I had tested positive for some type of lupus antibody.  Question is: should I be concerned?  My husband and I do wish to have another child but I'm not sure if doing so is adviseable.  Should I be concerned and look further into this ie. further testing, etc.
Dear Beth:
Lupus anticoagulant and anticardiolipin are blood factors that, despite the names, promote blood clotting. In consequence, they impair the nourishment of an early pregnancy and thereby contribute to miscarriage.
Aspirin interfers with the formation of clots and is the simplest therapy that has help other patients. Heparin is a second medication that "thins the blood" to reduce clotting. Oral anticoagulants (coumadin, warfarin) are not used in pregnancy.
Recurrent miscarriage can be caused by hormonal (example, low and high thyroid), infectious (example, listeria and ureaplasma), immune (antinuclear antibody positive diseases), anatomic (intrauterine scar), and genetic (translocation carrier in either parent) factors.
Miscarriage is a very emotional experience. One experiences a real loss and must grieve as with any other loss. The decision to attempt pregnancy again is very personal and requires lots of energy to remain cautiously hopeful. Assuring with your physician that all possible causes have been explored and initiating any reasonable (has been shown to help and has few side effects) treatment is helpful to most couple.
This material is provided for general informational purposes only and should not be considered a formal medical evaluation. If you have specific questions, please contact your primary physician.