Artigos Originais Archives - Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2015;37(9):402-410
DOI 10.1590/SO100-720320150005418
To investigate the influence of the use of oral hormonal contraceptive agents (OCA) on the biochemical indices related to metabolic zinc utilization and distribution, and to bone turnover in young adult women.
Cross-sectional study. Blood and urine samples from non-users (-OCA; control; n=69) and users of hormonal contraceptives for at least 3 months (+OCA; n=62) were collected under controlled conditions. Indices of zinc homeostasis and of bone turnover were analyzed in serum or plasma (total, albumin-bound and α2-macroglobulin-bound zinc, albumin and total and bone alkaline phosphatase activity), in erythrocytes (zinc and metallothionein) and in urine (zinc, calcium and hydroxyproline). The habitual zinc and calcium intakes were evaluated by a food frequency questionnaire.
Dietary zinc intake was similar in both groups and on average above recommended values, whereas calcium intake was similarly sub-adequate in +OCA and -OCA. Compared to controls, +OCA had lower concentrations of total and α2-macroglobulin-bound zinc (11 and 28.5%, respectively, p<0.001), serum albumin (13%, p<0.01), total and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase activity (13 and 18%, respectively, p<0.05), erythrocyte metallothionein (13%, p<0.01), and, urinary zinc (34%, p<0.05).
OCA use decreases serum zinc, alters zinc distribution in major serum fractions with possible effects on tissue uptake, enhances zinc retention in the body and decreases bone turnover. Prolonged OCA use may lead to lower peak bone mass and/or to impaired bone mass maintenance in young women, particularly in those with marginal calcium intake. The observed OCA effects were more evident in women younger than 25 years and in nulliparous women, deserving special attention in future studies.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2015;37(9):402-410
DOI 10.1590/SO100-720320150005418
To investigate the influence of the use of oral hormonal contraceptive agents (OCA) on the biochemical indices related to metabolic zinc utilization and distribution, and to bone turnover in young adult women.
Cross-sectional study. Blood and urine samples from non-users (-OCA; control; n=69) and users of hormonal contraceptives for at least 3 months (+OCA; n=62) were collected under controlled conditions. Indices of zinc homeostasis and of bone turnover were analyzed in serum or plasma (total, albumin-bound and α2-macroglobulin-bound zinc, albumin and total and bone alkaline phosphatase activity), in erythrocytes (zinc and metallothionein) and in urine (zinc, calcium and hydroxyproline). The habitual zinc and calcium intakes were evaluated by a food frequency questionnaire.
Dietary zinc intake was similar in both groups and on average above recommended values, whereas calcium intake was similarly sub-adequate in +OCA and -OCA. Compared to controls, +OCA had lower concentrations of total and α2-macroglobulin-bound zinc (11 and 28.5%, respectively, p<0.001), serum albumin (13%, p<0.01), total and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase activity (13 and 18%, respectively, p<0.05), erythrocyte metallothionein (13%, p<0.01), and, urinary zinc (34%, p<0.05).
OCA use decreases serum zinc, alters zinc distribution in major serum fractions with possible effects on tissue uptake, enhances zinc retention in the body and decreases bone turnover. Prolonged OCA use may lead to lower peak bone mass and/or to impaired bone mass maintenance in young women, particularly in those with marginal calcium intake. The observed OCA effects were more evident in women younger than 25 years and in nulliparous women, deserving special attention in future studies.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2015;37(10):455-459
DOI 10.1590/SO100-720320150005271
To analyze the obstetrical and neonatal outcomes of pregnancies with small for gestation age fetuses after 35 weeks based on umbilical cord nucleated red blood cells count (NRBC).
NRBC per 100 white blood cells were analyzed in 61 pregnancies with small for gestation age fetuses and normal Doppler findings for the umbilical artery. The pregnancies were assigned to 2 groups: NRBC≥10 (study group, n=18) and NRBC<10 (control group, n=43). Obstetrical and neonatal outcomes were compared between these groups. The χ2 test or Student's t-test was applied for statistical analysis. The level of significance was set at 5%.
The mean±standard deviation for NRBC per 100 white blood cells was 25.0±13.5 for the study group and 3.9±2.2 for the control group. The NRBC≥10 group and NRBC<10 group were not significantly different in relation to maternal age (24.0 versus 26.0), primiparity (55.8 versus 50%), comorbidities (39.5 versus55.6%) and gestational age at birth (37.4 versus 37.0 weeks). The NRBC≥10 group showed higher rate of caesarean delivery (83.3 versus 48.8%, p=0.02), fetal distress (60 versus 0%, p<0.001) and pH<7.20 (42.9 versus 11.8%, p<0.001). The birth weight and percentile of birth weight for gestational age were significantly lower on NRBC≥10 group (2,013 versus 2,309 g; p<0.001 and 3.8 versus 5.1; p=0.004; respectively). There was no case described of 5th minute Apgar score below 7.
An NRBC higher than 10 per 100 white blood cells in umbilical cord was able to identify higher risk for caesarean delivery, fetal distress and acidosis on birth in small for gestational age fetuses with normal Doppler findings.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2015;37(10):455-459
DOI 10.1590/SO100-720320150005271
To analyze the obstetrical and neonatal outcomes of pregnancies with small for gestation age fetuses after 35 weeks based on umbilical cord nucleated red blood cells count (NRBC).
NRBC per 100 white blood cells were analyzed in 61 pregnancies with small for gestation age fetuses and normal Doppler findings for the umbilical artery. The pregnancies were assigned to 2 groups: NRBC≥10 (study group, n=18) and NRBC<10 (control group, n=43). Obstetrical and neonatal outcomes were compared between these groups. The χ2 test or Student's t-test was applied for statistical analysis. The level of significance was set at 5%.
The mean±standard deviation for NRBC per 100 white blood cells was 25.0±13.5 for the study group and 3.9±2.2 for the control group. The NRBC≥10 group and NRBC<10 group were not significantly different in relation to maternal age (24.0 versus 26.0), primiparity (55.8 versus 50%), comorbidities (39.5 versus55.6%) and gestational age at birth (37.4 versus 37.0 weeks). The NRBC≥10 group showed higher rate of caesarean delivery (83.3 versus 48.8%, p=0.02), fetal distress (60 versus 0%, p<0.001) and pH<7.20 (42.9 versus 11.8%, p<0.001). The birth weight and percentile of birth weight for gestational age were significantly lower on NRBC≥10 group (2,013 versus 2,309 g; p<0.001 and 3.8 versus 5.1; p=0.004; respectively). There was no case described of 5th minute Apgar score below 7.
An NRBC higher than 10 per 100 white blood cells in umbilical cord was able to identify higher risk for caesarean delivery, fetal distress and acidosis on birth in small for gestational age fetuses with normal Doppler findings.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2015;37(8):388-392
DOI 10.1590/SO100-720320150005319
To describe the mortality of female breast cancer in Brazil according to color, in the years 2000 and 2010.
A descriptive study in which demographic data were obtained from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). The breast cancer death information in Brazil was collected from the Ministry of Health through the Mortality Information System (SIM). The crude mortality rates for female breast cancer were calculated according to color and age group, up to 49 years and ≥50 years. The results obtained were distributed into five geographical regions of the country (North, Northeast, Midwest, South and Southeast).
In Brazil, in women aged 50 or more, the highest crude mortality rates of breast cancer in 2000 were 62.6/100,000, 46.0/100,000 and 29.7/100,000 among yellow, white and black women, respectively. In women under 50 years in 2000, the crude mortality ranged from 2.0/100,000 among indigenous women to 6.8/100,000 among white women. After ten years, in women over 50 years, the crude mortality rate among yellow, white and black women was 21.5, 53.2 and 40.4 per 100,000, respectively. In the country's regions, the highest mortality rates of breast cancer were observed in white and black women from the South and Southeast. In the Northeast, mortality rates in black and brown women doubled in 2010.
Breast cancer mortality rates show ethnic and geographical variations. However, it is not possible to exclude the possibility that large variations have occurred as a result of improvement in the quality of information on mortality in the country.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2015;37(8):388-392
DOI 10.1590/SO100-720320150005319
To describe the mortality of female breast cancer in Brazil according to color, in the years 2000 and 2010.
A descriptive study in which demographic data were obtained from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). The breast cancer death information in Brazil was collected from the Ministry of Health through the Mortality Information System (SIM). The crude mortality rates for female breast cancer were calculated according to color and age group, up to 49 years and ≥50 years. The results obtained were distributed into five geographical regions of the country (North, Northeast, Midwest, South and Southeast).
In Brazil, in women aged 50 or more, the highest crude mortality rates of breast cancer in 2000 were 62.6/100,000, 46.0/100,000 and 29.7/100,000 among yellow, white and black women, respectively. In women under 50 years in 2000, the crude mortality ranged from 2.0/100,000 among indigenous women to 6.8/100,000 among white women. After ten years, in women over 50 years, the crude mortality rate among yellow, white and black women was 21.5, 53.2 and 40.4 per 100,000, respectively. In the country's regions, the highest mortality rates of breast cancer were observed in white and black women from the South and Southeast. In the Northeast, mortality rates in black and brown women doubled in 2010.
Breast cancer mortality rates show ethnic and geographical variations. However, it is not possible to exclude the possibility that large variations have occurred as a result of improvement in the quality of information on mortality in the country.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2015;37(8):381-387
DOI 10.1590/SO100-720320150005393
To evaluate the waiting times before obtaining the first colposcopic examination for women with abnormal Papanicolaou smears.
Retrospective cohort study conducted on patients who required a colposcopic examination to clarify an abnormal pap test, between 2002 January and 2008 August, in a metropolitan region of Brazil. The waiting times were defined as: Total Waiting Time (interval between the date of the pap test result and the date of the first colposcopic examination); Partial A Waiting Time (interval between the date of the pap test result and the date of referral); Partial B Waiting Time (interval between the date of referral and the date of the first colposcopic examination). Means, medians, relative and absolute frequencies were calculated. The Kruskal-Wallis test and Pearson's chi-square test were used to determine statistical significance.
A total of 1,544 women with mean of age of 34 years (SD=12.6 years) were analyzed. Most of them had access to colposcopic examination within 30 days (65.8%) or 60 days (92.8%) from referral. Mean Total Waiting Time, Partial A Waiting Time, and Partial B Waiting Time were 94.5 days (SD=96.8 days), 67.8 days (SD=95.3 days) and 29.2 days (SD=35.1 days), respectively.
A large part of the women studied had access to colposcopic examination within 60 days after referral, but Total waiting time was long. Measures to reduce the waiting time for obtaining the first colposcopic examination can help to improve the quality of care in the context of cervical cancer control in the region, and ought to be addressed at the phase between the date of the pap test results and the date of referral to the teaching hospital.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2015;37(8):381-387
DOI 10.1590/SO100-720320150005393
To evaluate the waiting times before obtaining the first colposcopic examination for women with abnormal Papanicolaou smears.
Retrospective cohort study conducted on patients who required a colposcopic examination to clarify an abnormal pap test, between 2002 January and 2008 August, in a metropolitan region of Brazil. The waiting times were defined as: Total Waiting Time (interval between the date of the pap test result and the date of the first colposcopic examination); Partial A Waiting Time (interval between the date of the pap test result and the date of referral); Partial B Waiting Time (interval between the date of referral and the date of the first colposcopic examination). Means, medians, relative and absolute frequencies were calculated. The Kruskal-Wallis test and Pearson's chi-square test were used to determine statistical significance.
A total of 1,544 women with mean of age of 34 years (SD=12.6 years) were analyzed. Most of them had access to colposcopic examination within 30 days (65.8%) or 60 days (92.8%) from referral. Mean Total Waiting Time, Partial A Waiting Time, and Partial B Waiting Time were 94.5 days (SD=96.8 days), 67.8 days (SD=95.3 days) and 29.2 days (SD=35.1 days), respectively.
A large part of the women studied had access to colposcopic examination within 60 days after referral, but Total waiting time was long. Measures to reduce the waiting time for obtaining the first colposcopic examination can help to improve the quality of care in the context of cervical cancer control in the region, and ought to be addressed at the phase between the date of the pap test results and the date of referral to the teaching hospital.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2015;37(8):374-380
DOI 10.1590/SO100-720320150005394
To identify the impact of urinary incontinence (UI) on quality of life (QoL), to compare the scores of QoL domains in women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI), overactive bladder (OAB) and mixed incontinence (MUI) and to establish the association between the clinical type of UI and the impact on QoL.
Data of 181 incontinent women attended at a public hospital were collected regarding age, body mass index (BMI) and co-morbidities. King's Health Questionnaire (KHQ) was applied and patients were classified into two groups according to the self-assessment of incontinence impact. KHQ scores were compared by the Mann-Whitney test. Depending on their urinary symptoms, women were divided into SUI, OAB and MUI groups and their scores in the KHQ domains were compared by the Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn tests. The odds ratio (OR) of a woman reporting a worse effect of UI on QoL was estimated using the binary logistic model. The control variables were: age, BMI and number of co-morbidities.
A significant difference was found between the two groups of self-assessment of UI impact for all KHQ domains. The MUI group showed worse scores than the SUI group for all domains, and OAB group, for limitation of physical and daily activities. There was a significant difference between the odds of the women in the SUI and MUI groups reporting worse effects of UI on QoL (OR=2.9; p=0.02).
As reported at other reference services, MUI was the most commom type, and urinary loss had a moderate/major impact on QoL, affecting mainly role limitations domain. The adjusted analysis showed that women with MUI had almost three times greater odds of reporting worse impact on QoL than women with SUI.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2015;37(8):374-380
DOI 10.1590/SO100-720320150005394
To identify the impact of urinary incontinence (UI) on quality of life (QoL), to compare the scores of QoL domains in women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI), overactive bladder (OAB) and mixed incontinence (MUI) and to establish the association between the clinical type of UI and the impact on QoL.
Data of 181 incontinent women attended at a public hospital were collected regarding age, body mass index (BMI) and co-morbidities. King's Health Questionnaire (KHQ) was applied and patients were classified into two groups according to the self-assessment of incontinence impact. KHQ scores were compared by the Mann-Whitney test. Depending on their urinary symptoms, women were divided into SUI, OAB and MUI groups and their scores in the KHQ domains were compared by the Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn tests. The odds ratio (OR) of a woman reporting a worse effect of UI on QoL was estimated using the binary logistic model. The control variables were: age, BMI and number of co-morbidities.
A significant difference was found between the two groups of self-assessment of UI impact for all KHQ domains. The MUI group showed worse scores than the SUI group for all domains, and OAB group, for limitation of physical and daily activities. There was a significant difference between the odds of the women in the SUI and MUI groups reporting worse effects of UI on QoL (OR=2.9; p=0.02).
As reported at other reference services, MUI was the most commom type, and urinary loss had a moderate/major impact on QoL, affecting mainly role limitations domain. The adjusted analysis showed that women with MUI had almost three times greater odds of reporting worse impact on QoL than women with SUI.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2015;37(8):359-365
DOI 10.1590/SO100-720320150005415
To compare sleep quality of overweight versus normal weight women in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.
A cross-sectional study involving 223 women with 14 or more weeks of pregnancy, 105 of them overweight (pre-pregnancy body mass index - BMI - ≥25.0 kg/m2) and 118 of normal weight (BMI 18.5-24.9 kg/m2), attending the prenatal care clinic. The Brazilian version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI-BR) questionnaire was used to evaluate sleep quality. The Student t-test and the chi-square test were used to compare differences between groups and a p value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Most of the participants (67.7%) were poor sleepers (total score >5); this proportion was significantly higher among overweight (80/105) versus normal weight (67/118) women (76.2 versus 56.8%, p=0,004). During the second trimester, this difference did not reach statistical significance (72.5 versus 53.7%, respectively, p=0.06) but mean total PSQI-BR scores were significantly higher among overweight participants (7.0±3.8 versus 5.5±3.2, p=0.02). In the 2nd trimester, overweight women also had higher scores for sleep latency (1.4±1.0 versus 1.0±0.9, p=0.02) and subjective sleep quality (1.3±0.8 versus 0.8±0.8, p=0.02). In the third trimester, the proportion of women with poor sleep quality was significantly higher in the overweight group, but did not reach statistical significance (79.6 versus 60.8%, p=0.06). During this period, total mean scores were similar for women with and without excess weight (9.4±4.2 versus 8.3±4.6, p=0.2). However, overweight women had higher mean scores for sleep disturbance (2.3±0.7 versus 2.0±0.8, p=0.04).
Overweight women had a poorer sleep quality than normal weight women in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2015;37(8):359-365
DOI 10.1590/SO100-720320150005415
To compare sleep quality of overweight versus normal weight women in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.
A cross-sectional study involving 223 women with 14 or more weeks of pregnancy, 105 of them overweight (pre-pregnancy body mass index - BMI - ≥25.0 kg/m2) and 118 of normal weight (BMI 18.5-24.9 kg/m2), attending the prenatal care clinic. The Brazilian version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI-BR) questionnaire was used to evaluate sleep quality. The Student t-test and the chi-square test were used to compare differences between groups and a p value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Most of the participants (67.7%) were poor sleepers (total score >5); this proportion was significantly higher among overweight (80/105) versus normal weight (67/118) women (76.2 versus 56.8%, p=0,004). During the second trimester, this difference did not reach statistical significance (72.5 versus 53.7%, respectively, p=0.06) but mean total PSQI-BR scores were significantly higher among overweight participants (7.0±3.8 versus 5.5±3.2, p=0.02). In the 2nd trimester, overweight women also had higher scores for sleep latency (1.4±1.0 versus 1.0±0.9, p=0.02) and subjective sleep quality (1.3±0.8 versus 0.8±0.8, p=0.02). In the third trimester, the proportion of women with poor sleep quality was significantly higher in the overweight group, but did not reach statistical significance (79.6 versus 60.8%, p=0.06). During this period, total mean scores were similar for women with and without excess weight (9.4±4.2 versus 8.3±4.6, p=0.2). However, overweight women had higher mean scores for sleep disturbance (2.3±0.7 versus 2.0±0.8, p=0.04).
Overweight women had a poorer sleep quality than normal weight women in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2015;37(8):353-358
DOI 10.1590/SO100-720320150005338
To investigate the association between genetic, behavioral, biological and medical risk factors and the occurrence of preterm birth.
A retrospective case-control study was conducted. The real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to analyze the influence of the rs12473815 polymorphism of the follicle stimulating hormone receptor gene (FSHR) and the rs1942836 polymorphism of the progesterone receptor gene (PGR). Other proposed risk factors were assessed using validated or specifically developed questionnaires and analysis of electronically recorded medical data. A total of 157 patients were included (45 cases who went into labor before 37 weeks of pregnancy and 112 controls who went into labor after 37 and before 42 weeks of pregnancy).
The genotypes CT of rs12473815 and CT and CC of rs1942836 were associated with a higher chance of premature delivery. There was an association between preterm birth and alcohol intake when consumption occurred 2 or more times per month. Low pre-pregnancy body mass index was a predictor of spontaneous preterm birth, while high body mass index reduced this likelihood.
The results suggest that excessive alcohol intake, a low level of pre-pregnancy body mass and the risk alleles of rs12473815 and rs1942836 polymorphisms of the FSHR and PGR genes, respectively, influence the occurrence of preterm birth.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2015;37(8):353-358
DOI 10.1590/SO100-720320150005338
To investigate the association between genetic, behavioral, biological and medical risk factors and the occurrence of preterm birth.
A retrospective case-control study was conducted. The real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to analyze the influence of the rs12473815 polymorphism of the follicle stimulating hormone receptor gene (FSHR) and the rs1942836 polymorphism of the progesterone receptor gene (PGR). Other proposed risk factors were assessed using validated or specifically developed questionnaires and analysis of electronically recorded medical data. A total of 157 patients were included (45 cases who went into labor before 37 weeks of pregnancy and 112 controls who went into labor after 37 and before 42 weeks of pregnancy).
The genotypes CT of rs12473815 and CT and CC of rs1942836 were associated with a higher chance of premature delivery. There was an association between preterm birth and alcohol intake when consumption occurred 2 or more times per month. Low pre-pregnancy body mass index was a predictor of spontaneous preterm birth, while high body mass index reduced this likelihood.
The results suggest that excessive alcohol intake, a low level of pre-pregnancy body mass and the risk alleles of rs12473815 and rs1942836 polymorphisms of the FSHR and PGR genes, respectively, influence the occurrence of preterm birth.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2015;37(8):347-352
DOI 10.1590/SO100-720320150005209
To investigate the association of the HLA-A, -B and -DRB1 alleles with the occurrence of Recurrent Spontaneous Abortion.
A case-control study of 200 women aged 18 to 35 years, consisting of a convenience sample of 100 women who had idiopathic recurrent spontaneous abortion and 100 women without abortion and with two or more children. Peripheral blood genomic DNA was extracted from 500l of Buffy Coat stored at -20°C. HLA typing was performed by the PCR-SSOP method (Polymerase Chain Reaction - Specific Sequence of Oligonucleotides Probes, One Lambda(r), CA, USA). The regions of the amplified DNA were exon 2 and 3 for the A and B loci and only exon 3 for the DRB1 locus. The HLA FUSIONTM program (One Lambda, Canoga Park, CA, USA, version 3.0) was used for HLA-A, HLA-B and HLA-DRB1 genotyping. Absolute frequencies and percentages and calculation of mean and standard deviation were used for standard statistical analysis. The qualitative variables were compared by the χ2 test with Yates correction or by Fisher's exact test. The odds ratio with the 95%CI was used for the comparisons, with the level of significance set at p<0.05.
The frequency of the A*34 allele was significantly higher in the case group compared to control (4.0 versus 0.5%; p<0.05). Alleles A*24 (6.0 versus 12.5%; p<0.05) and B*35 (8.0 versus 20.5%; p<0.05) were significantly less frequent in the case group. Among the class II alleles, DRB1*03 showed a slightly higher frequency in the case group (11.0 versus 5.5%, p = 0.056).
It was shown that the HLA-A*34 allele is a risk factor for recurrent spontaneous abortion, while the HLA-A*24 and HLA-B*35 alleles are associated with protection, and no allele of the DRB1 locus was associated with RSA.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2015;37(8):347-352
DOI 10.1590/SO100-720320150005209
To investigate the association of the HLA-A, -B and -DRB1 alleles with the occurrence of Recurrent Spontaneous Abortion.
A case-control study of 200 women aged 18 to 35 years, consisting of a convenience sample of 100 women who had idiopathic recurrent spontaneous abortion and 100 women without abortion and with two or more children. Peripheral blood genomic DNA was extracted from 500l of Buffy Coat stored at -20°C. HLA typing was performed by the PCR-SSOP method (Polymerase Chain Reaction - Specific Sequence of Oligonucleotides Probes, One Lambda(r), CA, USA). The regions of the amplified DNA were exon 2 and 3 for the A and B loci and only exon 3 for the DRB1 locus. The HLA FUSIONTM program (One Lambda, Canoga Park, CA, USA, version 3.0) was used for HLA-A, HLA-B and HLA-DRB1 genotyping. Absolute frequencies and percentages and calculation of mean and standard deviation were used for standard statistical analysis. The qualitative variables were compared by the χ2 test with Yates correction or by Fisher's exact test. The odds ratio with the 95%CI was used for the comparisons, with the level of significance set at p<0.05.
The frequency of the A*34 allele was significantly higher in the case group compared to control (4.0 versus 0.5%; p<0.05). Alleles A*24 (6.0 versus 12.5%; p<0.05) and B*35 (8.0 versus 20.5%; p<0.05) were significantly less frequent in the case group. Among the class II alleles, DRB1*03 showed a slightly higher frequency in the case group (11.0 versus 5.5%, p = 0.056).
It was shown that the HLA-A*34 allele is a risk factor for recurrent spontaneous abortion, while the HLA-A*24 and HLA-B*35 alleles are associated with protection, and no allele of the DRB1 locus was associated with RSA.