Measurement if inhibin A and inhibin pro-αc in early human pregnancy and their role in the prediction of pregnancy outcome in patients with recurrent pregnancy loss

Objective: To examine the temporal relationship among inhibin A, beta-hCG, and pro-alphaC in early pregnancy and to determine whether the measurement of these hormones has any role in prediction of pregnancy outcome in patients with recurrent spontaneous miscarriage. Design: Prospective descriptive study. Setting: A tertiary referral center for recurrent miscarriage. Patient(s): Thirty-six pregnant women with previous history of recurrent spontaneous pregnancy loss. Intervention(s): Serial blood samples were collected prospectively at 6, 8, 10, and 12 weeks of gestation and were analyzed for inhibin A and inhibin pro-alphac using a two-site enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay as well as for beta-hCG using the microparticle enzyme immunoassay. Main Outcome Measure(s): Serum levels of inhibin A, inhibin pro-alphac, and beta-hCG. Result(s): The patients were allocated to two groups according to the pregnancy outcome: group I consisted of patients whose pregnancy continued beyond 20 weeks (control group); and group 2 consisted of patients who spontaneously aborted (aborted group). There was a significant difference in inhibin A concentrations between the control and aborted groups at 8, 10, and 12 weeks' gestation. Significant differences in beta-hCG concentrations between the two groups is evident only at 10 weeks' gestation. There were no significant differences in inhibin pro-ac concentrations between the two groups at any gestational age. Assessment of the trend in the control group over the study period showed a significant increase in inhibin A and beta-hCG but not inhibin pro-ac levels. Conclusion(s): Low serum levels of inhibin A at early gestational age in pregnancies destined to miscarry suggest a role for this glycoprotein as a marker for early pregnancy viability. Its measurement at the time of the first pregnancy test might ((C) 2003 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.)