Complementemia and obstetric outcome in pregnancy with antiphospholipid syndrome

Lupus. 2012 Jun;21(7):776-8. doi: 10.1177/0961203312444172.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the predictive value of serum C3 and C4 complement component levels in relation to pregnancy outcome in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS).

Materials and methods: A prospective study of 47 pregnancies associated with APS was performed. Pregnancy outcome was analyzed in terms of: fetal loss, preterm delivery (≤34 gestational weeks), fetal intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), birth weight <2500 g and preeclampsia. Week at delivery, neonatal birth weight and neonatal birth weight percentile were also investigated. Hypocomplementemia, positivity for anti-dsDNA and triple positivity for antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) were related to pregnancy outcome.

Results: Forty-three pregnancies ended in live births with a fetal loss rate of 8.5%. Fetal death, preterm delivery and birth weight <2500 g were associated with hypocomplementemia (p = 0.019, p = 0.0002, p < 0.0001 respectively). Lower neonatal birth weight, lower neonatal birth weight percentile and lower week at delivery were associated with hypocomplementemia (p < 0.0001, p = 0.0003, p < 0.0001 respectively) and with triple aPL positivity (p = 0.008, p = 0.014, p = 0.03 respectively). A poor pregnancy outcome was confirmed among primary APS (PAPS) pregnancies with hypocomplementemia. Multivariate analysis confirmed that hypocomplementemia was an independent predictor of lower neonatal birth weight (p = 0.0001) and lower week at delivery (p = 0.002).

Conclusion: Hypocomplementemia could be considered a novel prognostic factor for pregnancy outcome in APS patients.

MeSH terms

  • Antiphospholipid Syndrome / blood*
  • Complement C3 / metabolism*
  • Complement C4 / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications / blood*
  • Pregnancy Outcome
  • Prospective Studies

Substances

  • Complement C3
  • Complement C4