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Problem: To investigate the possible relationship between human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and recurrent miscarriage (RM)., Methods: In this retrospective case-control study, 49 women with unexplained RM (Group 1 - cases) and 475 women without any miscarriage and with at least one pregnancy at term (Group 2 - controls) were checked for cervical HPV infection through Hybrid Capture(®) II (HC 2) or polymerase chain reaction (PCR)., Results: HPV+ DNA tests were detected in 13 (26.53%) RM women and in 294 (61.89%) control women (P < 0.001). The prevalence rate in HPV+DNA tests was significantly different in the 30-39 years age range. No differences between groups were detected in HPV types, nor in the cytological and histological findings., Conclusion: Women with RM have a lower prevalence of HPV+DNA tests than controls. This suggests that immune reactivity potentially leading to RM could be in some way protective against genital HPV infection., (© 2013 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Problem: To investigate the possibility that antinuclear antibodies (ANA) are involved in recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL)., Methods: Case-control study carried out on 294 women (194 cases and 100 controls) in two University hospitals. The presence, the serum titers and the indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) patterns of ANA were determined in women with RPL and in control women., Results: Antinuclear antibodies at titers ≥ 1:80 were detected in 97 (50%) women with RPL and in 16 (16%) control women. Elevated ANA titers (≥1:180) were detected only in RPL women, whereas all control women had ANA titers no greater than 1:80. No differences could be detected in the IIF patterns between RPL and control women. No differences in ANA positivity could be detected according to the type (primary or secondary) or number (>2 versus ≥3) of losses., Conclusions: ANA could be of some value in identifying women with RPL with potential, although still not fully defined, immune abnormalities., (© 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S.)

Objective: To investigate the possible association between selected thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL)., Design: Case-control study., Setting: University hospital., Patient(s): One hundred fifty-eight women (86 cases and 72 controls)., Intervention(s): Determination of TAFI SNPs -438A/G, +505A/G, +1040T/C, +1542C/G, and +1583A/T by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) reactions and sequencing analysis performed on peripheral blood samples., Main Outcome Measure(s): Analysis of the genotype and allele frequencies of TAFI SNPs -438A/G, +505A/G, +1040T/C, +1542C/G, and +1583A/T in women with and without RPL., Result(s): Genotype and allele frequencies of TAFI +505 and +1583 SNPs were significantly different in women with RPL compared with control women. The frequencies of the +505A/A and +505G/G genotypes were 1.2% and 61.6% in women with RPL and 13.9% and 43.1% in control women, respectively. The frequencies of the +1583A/A and +1583T/T genotypes were 1.2% and 61.6% in women with RPL and 13.9% and 45.8% in control women, respectively. The genotype and allele frequencies at TAFI position -438, +1040, and +1542 were not significantly different between RPL and control women., Conclusion(s): The SNPs leading to increased TAFI levels are associated with a reduced risk of RPL. It is possible that TAFI is involved in RPL.