Recurrent miscarriage is associated with protein C and S deficiency among Duhok women

Abstract EN

Protein C and S deficiency were recently suggested as a possible factor in recurrent miscarriage (RM).

Acquired protein C and S deficiency can develop with vitamin K deficiency, liver disease and treatment with vitamin K antagonists.

We studied prospectively 60 patients with one or more first trimester pregnancy losses for the prevalence of protein C and S deficiency in association with vitamin K deficiency.

A control group of 30 women with no past fetal loss were matched with the study group.

This study reported very high percentages of protein C deficiency (41.6% ) in women with RM (P= 0.02).

This deficiency is associated significantly with vitamin K deficiency (P<0.001).

Additionally, a low expression level of protein C was detected in 28.3% of patients who had more than 2 RM (P<0.007).

Whereas no significant association was observed between protein S deficiency and RM.

These findings suggest that assessment of protein C deficiency in association with vitamin K should be considered in a more extended evaluation of such patients.