21 research outputs found
The role of serum podocalyxin levels in recurrent pregnancy loss
Objective: To measure serum levels of podocalyxin (PODXL) in recurrent miscarriages as a marker of
vascular endothelial dysfunction.
Study design: In this case-control study, women who were hospitalized for singleton
first-trimester
pregnancy terminations due to missed abortion, anembryonic pregnancy, and inevitable abortion were
included. There were 24 patients who were admitted for the
first pregnancy termination, 39 patients who
were admitted for recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL), and 25 fetal cardiac activity positive patients as the
control group. Demographic features, medical and obstetric histories were recorded. The measurements
of serum PODXL were done by a human enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit.
Results: Serum PODXL levels were found to be significantly higher in the RPL group than the control group
and the
first time miscarriage group (13.82 [10.09 113.54] vs. 11.78 [9.25 48.80], p = 0.016 and 13.82
[10.09–113.54] vs. 11.99 [8.20–20.47], p = 0.003; respectively). Serum PODXL levels were not statistically
significantly different between the
first miscarriage and the control group (p = 0.62). There were positive
correlation between serum PODXL levels and the number of gravida and the number of miscarriages (r =
0.217, p = 0.042, and r = 0.291, p = 0.006; respectively).
Conclusion: Recurrent miscarriage patients had higher serum levels of PODXL than both normal
pregnancies and
first-time miscarriages. Our results suggest that maternal endothelial dysfunction might
have a role in recurrent pregnancy losses