Introduction
The concept of ¡°thrombophilia¡± encompasses a group of genetic and/or inherited disorders of the coagulative system able to increase the risk of recurrent spontaneous abortion. Hyperhomocysteinemia, an entity included in this group, is one of the best known.
Objectives
Our objectives were to explore the association between maternal homocysteinemia and spontaneous (recurrent or isolated) abortion, establish the prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia among patients with abortion, and determine the effect of preconceptional and prenatal supplementation with folate and vitamin B12 on homocysteinemia.
Matherial and methods
We performed a case-control study with 1:1 matching based on maternal age and previous abortions. In all participants, fasting homocysteine levels, as well as the factors that could modify them, were determined.
Results and conclusions
Homocysteine concentrations were significantly higher in women with abortion than in controls, although the rate of hyperhomocysteinemia in the series was very low. The data do not suggest an important therapeutic role for folates or vitamin B12 in these patients.
