Introduction Recurrent SPONTANEOUS ABORTION (RSA) is one of the most common complications in reproductive ages. Several factors such as genetic, anatomical, and endocrine disorders, infection, and environmental and immunological factors have been involved in RSA. In cases of ABORTIONs, whose reasons are known, the chance of success in pregnancy can be increased after the elimination of the defective factors; but, in women with a history RSA with an unknown reason, there is an imbalance in the regulatory mechanisms of immune cells, and even the pattern of immunological cells changes in these women. Actually, an inappropriate immune response is often associated with pregnancy loss. Immunologic factors involved in patients with RSA have gradually been identified, using diagnostic methods and several studies. The present study was conducted with the aim of reviewing RSA immunology and new findings in this field. In this study, more than 40 articles on immunologic factors involved in RSA were reviewed. Conclusion Based on the current findings related to the immunology of pregnancy, due to the extensive role of the immunologic factors in this disorder, more accurate identification of the functional role of each immunologic factor becomes more important. Also, new therapeutic approaches will be addressed to the researchers in this field based on the changes in the function of immune system.

Background: ABORTION is a public health concern because of its impact on maternal morbidity and mortality. Each year, about 79 million unintended pregnancies, excluding miscarriage, occur worldwide. More than half of these unintended pregnancies end in ABORTION. The purpose of this study was to determine the ever-event incidence of ABORTION (SPONTANEOUS and induced) and some related factors in a population-based sample of reproductive age women. Methods: From July 2003 through January 2004, 2470 women were included in the study through multistage random sampling and were interviewed. Data were collected using a checklist with questions about demographics and specific items regarding ABORTION history. Information about age, literacy, gravidity, marriage age, ABORTION, type of ABORTION, family history of ABORTION, history of family marriage, smoking, drug use, alcohol use, coffee intake, and incidence of ABORTION during the previous year were recorded. Statistical analysis included Student’s t-test, Chi-square, ANOVA, and logistic regression using SPSS software. Results: Out of the 2,470 women in the study, 775 (45.7%), had at least one ABORTION in their lives. Of the women who had an ABORTION, 20.6% reported induced ABORTION and 74.2% reported SPONTANEOUS ABORTION. Forty-one point four percent of women aged 45 years and older had at least one ABORTION in their lifetime. Fifty-one (2.1%) women had a history of ABORTION during the previous year; the largest proportion was 5.4% for the age group 15 – 24 years. The most common method of induced ABORTION in the previous year was dilatation and curettage (42 to 67%). In multivariate analysis, household number, coffee consumption, gravidity, smoking, and history of ABORTION in the family were the most important factors related to ABORTION in the different age groups of women. Conclusion: This study shows that the occurrence of at least one ABORTION in the life of women in our setting is high and varies by age group. There is a need for expanded comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services, and more education and accessibility of contraception methods.

Background: SPONTANEOUS ABORTION is the most common adverse pregnancy outcome. We aimed to investigate a possible link between nutrient deficiencies and the risk of SPONTANEOUS ABORTION.Materials and Methods: This case-control study included the case group (n=331) experiencing a SPONTANEOUS ABORTION before 14 weeks of pregnancy and the control group (n=331) who were healthy pregnant women over 14 weeks of pregnancy. The participants filled out Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), in which they reported their frequency of consumption for a given serving of each food item during the past three months, on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. The reported frequency for each food item was converted to a daily intake. Then, consumption of nutrients was compared between the two groups.Results: There are significant differences between the two groups regarding consumed servings/day of vegetables, bread and cereal, meat, poultry, fish, eggs, beans, fats, oils and dairy products (P=0.012, P<0.001, P=0.004, P<0.001, P=0.019, respectively). There are significant differences between the two groups in all micronutrient including folic acid, iron, vitamin C, vitamin B6, vitamin B12 and zinc (P<0.001).Conclusion: Poor nutrientions may be correlated with increased risk of SPONTANEOUS ABORTION.

Background: SPONTANEOUS ABORTION is the most common adverse pregnancy outcome. We aimed to investigate a possible link between nutrient deficiencies and the risk of SPONTANEOUS ABORTION.Materials and Methods: This case-control study included the case group (n=331) experiencing a SPONTANEOUS ABORTION before 14 weeks of pregnancy and the control group (n=331) who were healthy pregnant women over 14 weeks of pregnancy. The participants filled out Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), in which they reported their frequency of consumption for a given serving of each food item during the past three months, on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. The reported frequency for each food item was converted to a daily intake. Then, consumption of nutrients was compared between the two groups.Results: There are significant differences between the two groups regarding consumed servings/day of vegetables, bread and cereal, meat, poultry, fish, eggs, beans, fats, oils and dairy products (P=0.012, P<0.001, P=0.004, P<0.001, P=0.019, respectively). There are significant differences between the two groups in all micronutrient including folic acid, iron, vitamin C, vitamin B6, vitamin B12 and zinc (P<0.001).Conclusion: Poor nutrientions may be correlated with increased risk of SPONTANEOUS ABORTION.

Background: Humans require minute amounts of trace metals to maintain body’ s normal growth and physiological functions; such elements may also play a vital role in pregnancy and pregnancy outcome. The present study was conducted to assess the role of two trace metals, zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) in women with history of SPONTANEOUS ABORTION (SAb cases) in comparison to women without such history (controls). Materials and Methods: In this retrospective study, a total of 277 subjects were enrolled from the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad, India. Personal demographic information, medical history, reproductive history especially details of number of SAb, duration of last SAb, number of children, etc. were recorded using predesigned and pre-tested proforma. Serum Zn and Cu levels were measured by an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Results: The data indicated that the serum level of Cu (P<0. 01) and Zn was lower in SAb cases as compared to controls. Correlation between the number of SAbs and trace metals levels showed a significant negative correlation between Cu and Cu/Zn and the number of SAbs. Cu/Zn was higher in controls and women having at least one child as compared cases and women without child, respectively. Pregnant women had higher levels of trace elements as compared to non-pregnant women at the time of enrollment. Conclusion: The data revealed that trace metals such as Zn and Cu have a positive role in pregnancy outcome and optimum levels of Zn and Cu might be able to decline the chances of SAb occurrence in addition to other factors. The ratio of Cu/Zn has a positive role in reproductive outcomes.

Background: There are different opinions about the relationship between SPONTANEOUS ABORTION and women’s occupational exposure to anesthetic gases. This study and other similar studies about women’s occupational exposure seems necessary as more than 50 percent of women experience pregnancy during their working life.The aim of our study was to determine the association between rate of SPONTANEOUS ABORTION and maternal occupational exposure to anesthetic gases.Methods: Our study was a historical cohort. Two groups of married women were studied: exposed group (women who worked in operating rooms) and unexposed group (women who worked in emergency department, ICU or CCU). Data was collected through questionnaire and interview, and exclusion and inclusion criteria were applied. Pregnant personnel were followed till the end of 20th week of pregnancy. Data was analyzed using SPSS 11.5 software with frequency distribution tables, cross-tabulation tables, chi squared test, and t-test, and p<0.05 was set as significance.Findings: SPONTANEOUS ABORTION rate in the exposed group was 15.7% and in the unexposed group was 13.4%. Chi-squared test showed no significant difference (p=0.529). Odds ratio was 1.196 with a confidence interval of 0.685-2.090.Conclusion: Our study did not find a significant relationship between SPONTANEOUS ABORTION and occupational exposure to anesthetic gases, but avoidance of unreasonable exposure is rational using scavenging systems.

Introduction: Brucella infection in animals has got documented association with high incidence of ABORTION, but in human there are controversies about the role of brucellosis in SPONTANEOUS ABORTION. Since brucellosis is endemic in Iran and is a disease that can be diagnosed and treated and many causes of ABORTION are undiagnosed, this study was designed to evaluate probable association between maternal brucella infection and SPONTANEOUS ABORTION.Materials and Methods: This clinical-trial study was done in the year 2006 at Amir-al Momenin Hospital of Semnan University of Medical Sciences. 81 women with SPONTANEOUS ABORTION were considered as case and 103 women with normal pregnancy outcome as control group. Previous pregnancy rates, previous ABORTION rates, and pregnancy age were similar in both groups. Two milliliter blood samples obtained from each one and IgG and IgM antibody measured by ELISA method in both groups. IgG or IgM equal or greater than ten considered positive. Individual, pregnancy age, fresh cheese and milk consumption, blood examination tests were gathered in a questionnaire and analyzed by descriptive statistics and statistical tests with significance of 5%.Results: Both groups were matched based on age, number of previous pregnancies and ABORTION, pregnancy age and consumption of fresh cheese. 6.2% of cases and 13.6% of control group had positive IgG titer (IgG³ 10 units). In both groups IgM was negative (IgM<10 units). There was no significant relationship between brucella antibody and SPONTANEOUS ABORTION. There was significant relationship between raw milk consumption and SPONTANEOUS ABORTION (OR=6.31).Conclusion: This study showed that asymptomatic brucella infection has no role in SPONTANEOUS ABORTION.