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50A - Progesterone Treatment Does Not Help Recurrent Miscarriage Patients

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from Section IX - Hormones and the Environment

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 November 2021

Roy Homburg
Affiliation:
Homerton University Hospital, London
Adam H. Balen
Affiliation:
Leeds Centre for Reproductive Medicine
Robert F. Casper
Affiliation:
Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto
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Summary

Recurrent miscarriage, defined as the loss of three or more consecutive early pregnancies, affects 1-2% of the population. In at least 50% of cases this is due to recurrent fetal aneuploidy. Despite numerous proposed aetiologies (endocrine; immune and anatomical), only obstetric antiphospholid syndrome has withstood critical evaluation over an extended period – 30 years. Progesterone, secreted by the corpus luteum, is recognised to play a cardinal role in early pregnancy. Its actions are mediated through both genomic (via nuclear and membrane bound receptors) and non-genomic mechanisms which include modulation of the maternal immune response, promotion of a TH2 cytokine response and up-regulation of Tissue Factor and PAI-1 activity. A murine knockout model of progesterone receptor A demonstrates impaired endometrial decidualisation and implantation failure. Seminal work by Robert Casper reported that progesterone secretion by the corpus luteum is an absolute requirement for a successful pregnancy. Lutectomy before 8 weeks of pregnancy results in a decrease in progesterone levels and miscarriage. Pregnancy is rescued by the administration of exogenous progesterone. Administration of an anti-progesterone, Mifepristone, leads to pregnancy loss. Progesterone levels are lower in pregnancies that miscarry compared to those that are on-going.

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2021

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References

Coomarasamy, A, Williams, H, Truchanowicz, E, et al. A randomized trial of progesterone in women with recurrent miscarriages. New Engl J Med. 2015;373(22):2141–8.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Saccone, G, Schoen, C, Franasiak, JM, et al. Supplementation with progestogens in the first trimester of pregnancy to prevent miscarriage in women with unexplained recurrent miscarriage: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized, controlled trials. Fertil Steril. 2017;107(2):430–38.e3.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
The ESHRE Guideline Group on RPL. Atik, RB, Christiansen, OB, Elson, J, et al. ESHRE guideline: recurrent pregnancy loss. Hum Reprod Open. 2018;2018(2):hoy004.Google Scholar
Coomarasamy, A, Devall, AJ, Cheed, V, et al. A randomized trial of progesterone in women with bleeding in early pregnancy. New Engl J Med. 2019;380(19):1815–24.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Coomarasamy, A, Devall, AJ, Brosens, JJ, et al. Micronized vaginal progesterone to prevent miscarriage: a critical evaluation of randomized evidence. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2020;223(2):167–76.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

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