الفهرس 
MiscarriageOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Miscarriage or spontaneous abortion is the spontaneous end of pregnancy at a stage where the embryo or fetus is incapable of surviving, generally defined in humans at prior to 20 weeks of gestation or below a fetal weight of 500g.
Three-fourths of spontaneous abortion occurs before 16th week; of these, three-fourths occur before eighth week. Almost 20% of clinically recognized pregnancies terminate in spontaneous abortion.
Causes of spontaneous abortion can be summarized to be: chromosomal abnormalities, infection, hormonal problems, incompetent cervix, immunological disorders, uterine abnormalities, nutritional and environmental factors. In many cases of miscarriage no obvious cause was found. Placenta growth factor, a member of the vascular endothelial growth factor family, is a 132-amino acid residue, 50-kDa dimeric glycoprotein, and shares a number of biochemical and functional features with other members of the vascular endothelial growth factor family.
Placenta growth factor is an important local mediator of angiogenesis and prominent expression of placenta growth factor has been identified in placenta, human umbilical vein endothelial cells, and choriocarcinoma cell lines. In the placenta, placenta growth factor is produced mainly by the cytotrophoblast, syncytiotrophoblast, and extravillous trophoblast. Previously, decreased levels of placenta growth factor in preeclamptic patients after the clinical manifestations occurred had been reported, mostly in the third trimester.
The growth-related factors are altered in pregnancies accompanied by fetal intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). Low serum PIGF levels are detected in the second half of the pregnancy in clinically presented cases with IUGR. IUGR is associated with increased perinatal morbidity and mortality. Impaired neurological development, and negative long-term consequences in adult life.
Intrauterine implantation has been associated with the activity of placental growth factor (PIGF).
In the present study we recruited 60 pregnant women at 6-10 weeks of gestation from the women who attended to antenatal care clinic of Ain Shams University Maternity Hospital between June 2011 and September 2011. Samples were collected for our study.
For each case, a full history, general and local examinations done and divided them to 2 groups:-
¬¬Group 1 (study group):
Included 30 pregnant patients with threatened miscarriage.
Group 2 (the control group):
Included 30 pregnant patients with normal uncomplicated first trimester intrauterine pregnancy
The results of our study concluded that there was statistically significant relation between PIGF and first trimester miscarriage when comparing pregnant women with threatened abortion with women with normal pregnancy. PIGF is considered better positive than negative with higher sensitivity in prediction of threatened abortion (Best cut off=27.5). PIGF is considered better positive than negative with higher sensitivity in prediction of complete abortion( Best cut off=12.8)
from the result of our study and the results of the previous study it seems that screening of PIGF would predict miscarriage rates, particularly in the first trimester.