Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: Low Molecular Weight Heparin for Treatment of Recurrent Miscarriage With Negative Antiphospholipid Antibodies: a Randomized Controlled Trial
Brief Summary: Recurrent miscarriage (RM) is traditionally defined as three or more consecutive miscarriages occurring before 20 weeks post-menstruation. It is one of the most common clinical problems in reproduction, yet a definite cause can be established in only 50 percent of cases (ACOG practice bulletin, 2002). Many etiological factors have been proposed but none of them has been fully substantiated. RM has been directly associated with maternal thrombophilic disorders, parental chromosomal anomalies, and structural uterine anomalies and indirectly with maternal immune dysfunction and endocrine abnormalities.

The association between pregnancy loss and antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) was first noticed in the latter third of the last century. The antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is characterized by the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (APLA), associated with venous and/or arterial thrombosis, and/or pregnancy loss. The adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with the presence of APLAs include: recurrent fetal loss, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), and severe pre-eclampsia especially of early onset.

Testing the effect of Heparin in treatment of cases with RA but negative for APA has bee done in few animal and clinical studies. Animal studies showed that the subset of cases with disorders suspicious for APS but who had negative test results for LAC and aCL is carrying antibodies pathogenic to murine pregnancy. Testing other immunoglobulin G may provide additional means to identify cases with an yet uncharacterized immune condition. Moreover, the clinical relevance of low levels of APLA in these women remains unproved.

Randomized prospective study was done to assess the efficacy of early thromboprophylaxis of Low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) (Enoxaparin sodium 20 mg, once daily subcutaneously) in women with a history of recurrent miscarriages without identifiable causes versus no treatment. The results showed that, there is a significant reduction in the incidence of both early and late miscarriages (8.8% vs 4.1%) (2.3% versus 1.1%) with or without treatment, respectively.

Cochrane Database systemic review (2005) shows randomized comparative studies for treating recurrent miscarriage in women without antiphospholipid syndrome. The first group treated by low dose aspirin alone and the second group treated by low dose aspirin + LMWH. The result of these studies shows that no significant differences between the two groups and identify the need of large randomized controlled trial to solve this problem.

The above evidence suggests the probability of presence of untested LAC and aCL or very low levels of APLA by commonly used methods in women with recurrent miscarriage. These antibodies may explain recurrent miscarriage in cases with negative antiphospholipid antibodies. It remains to test the efficacy of heparin (proven effective treatment in those with positive antibodies) in the patients with negative antibodies. Finding a solution to this frustrating problem may open the way for an unsolved problem.

The proposed study is an open labeled randomized controlled trial (RCT) To evaluate the effect of LMWH versus no heparin in treatment of recurrent miscarriage that is negative for antiphospholipid antibodies testing.


Options:
A: Inclusion Criteria:

* Women experiencing one or two pregnancy losses at any point in gestation in the past that were not elective termination(s). At least one of these losses must be well documented by one of the following:

  * Sonogram demonstrating anembryonic loss, embryonic loss or fetal death.
  * Histologic confirmation of products of conception that were spontaneously passed per vagina or surgically obtained.
  * Hospital records of fetus delivery.
  * Late menses and positive serum hCG or positive urine hCG documented by hospital or clinic records followed by either a negative hospital/clinic pregnancy test or a decline in urinary hCG level over 3 days.
  * Home pregnancy tests without hCG confirmation from a healthcare provider (either serum or urine) will not be accepted.
* No more than 5 pregnancies in total including the pregnancy loss(es).\*
* Up to two prior pregnancies that did not end in a loss.\*

  \*Women may have up to two pregnancies beyond 20 weeks that were not losses, two spontaneous pregnancy losses at any time in the past, and up to one therapeutic or elective termination (two therapeutic or elective terminations if no other pregnancies). Ectopic and molar pregnancies would, for the purpose of enrollment, be considered in the same category as therapeutic termination pregnancies. Women with more than two live births or those with more than two losses, regardless of the week of gestation of the loss, are excluded.
* Presence of intact tubes (both), ovaries (both), and uterus.
* Between 18 and 40 years of age at time of baseline visit.
* Regular menstrual periods between 21 - 42 days in length (within the last 12 months). Regular menstrual periods are defined as no more than an 8-day difference between the woman's shortest and longest cycle.
* No more than one missed menses in the past 12 months (other than those missed due to pregnancy or breastfeeding).
* Actively trying to conceive with a male partner and not using contraception by the baseline visit.
* Not currently pregnant at the baseline or randomization visits.
* Ability and willingness to give informed consent.
* Willingness to be randomized and to take daily study pills for 6 months to a possible 15 months

Exclusions Criteria:

* Known allergies to aspirin or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents.
* Clinical indication for anticoagulant therapy. These include prior or current thrombosis, antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) or known major thrombophilia.
* Clinical indication for chronic use of NSAIDs such as rheumatoid arthritis.
* Indication for additional folic acid supplementation, such as prior infant with neural tube defect (NTD), seizure disorder.
* Medical contraindication to aspirin therapy. These include uncontrolled asthma, nasal polyps, bleeding disorders, or history of gastrointestinal ulcer.
* Presence of major medical disorders (regardless of severity). These include diabetes, hypertension, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), untreated or active cancer (any cancer in remission or non-melanoma skin cancer is not included in the exclusion criteria), liver disease, renal disease, rheumatoid arthritis, cardiac disease, pulmonary disease other than mild asthma, neurologic disease requiring medical treatment, uncontrolled hypothyroidism, uncontrolled seizure disorder. Untreated vitamin B12 deficiency, severe anemia (Hct \< 30%), hemophilia, gout, nasal polyps, among others.
* Currently undergoing/planned use of assisted reproductive techniques during trial (IVF; IUI; Clomid).
* History of infertility or sub-fertility. This includes any of the following:

  * No conception after ≥ 1 year of unprotected intercourse and actively trying to conceive.
  * Any prior medical treatment for infertility.
  * Prior treatment for known pelvic inflammatory disease.
  * Known male infertility or sperm abnormality (current partner).
  * Known tubal occlusion, anovulation, uterine abnormality, or endometriosis stage III or IV.
  * History of polycystic ovarian syndrome.
* Presence of unstable mental disorder. These include bipolar illness, schizophrenia, uncontrolled depression, uncontrolled anxiety disorder.
* Known current or recent alcohol abuse or illicit drug use.
* Current diagnosis of sexually transmitted infection (STI) (temporary exclusion)
B: Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients with a minimum of three consecutive pregnancy losses before 10 weeks gestation
* Positive lupus anticoagulant and/or anticardiolipin antibodies (IgG and IgM) on at least two occasions twelve weeks apart .
* Age between 19 - 37 years,
* Body mass index between 19-30

Exclusion Criteria:

* Parental chromosomal abnormalities
* Uterine abnormalities
* Luteal phase defect
* Systemic lupus erythematosus
* Previous thromboembolism
* Sensitivity to aspirin.
C: Inclusion Criteria:

1. Pregnant women between 20-35 years of age with a history of regular marital life with the same partner.
2. Had at least 3 previous consecutive pregnancy losses before 20 weeks of gestation.
3. Regularly menstruating before current pregnancy.
4. Got spontaneous conception.
5. Negative antibody tests for antiphospholipid syndrome. IgG and IgM aCL antibodies will be detected by an enzyme linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA. The results considered positive when the IgG aCL \> 8.4 IU/ml; IgM aCL \> 7 IU/ml.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Presence of polycystic ovarian syndrome which diagnosed either by history suggestive or PCO appearance by TV Ultrasonography.
2. Abnormal uterine cavity as proved by sonohysterography or diagnostic hysteroscopy.
3. Positive consanguinity between the two partners.
4. Presence of any other endocrine abnormalities. Glucose tolerance curve will be done exclude the presence of diabetes. Other endocrine abnormalities will be excluded by history and clinical examination. If any clinical suspicion has been raised, the required endocrinological tests will be done.
5. Women refused to participate in the trial.
D: Inclusion Criteria:

* Pregnant women with APS diagnosed according to the revised classification criteria for APS in 2006 in Sydney, Australia
* Early pregnancy body weight is 50-90 Kg

Exclusion Criteria:

* Women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
* Women with active thromboembolic disorders
* Women with history of previous thromboembolic disorders

Answer: C