Differentials

Common

Idiopathic recurrent miscarriage

History

3 or more consecutive miscarriages where no cause is found

Exam

no specific abnormalities

1st investigation
  • CBC:

    normal

  • blood group and antibodies:

    no antibodies

  • antiphospholipid antibody screen:

    normal

    More
  • cytogenetic analysis for the karyotype of products of conception:

    normal

  • pelvic ultrasound scan (transabdominal or transvaginal, ideally 3-dimensional):

    normal

    More
Other investigations
  • sperm DNA fragmentation:

    increased

    More
  • thrombophilia screen:

    normal

    More

Fetal chromosomal abnormality

History

no specific features

Exam

no specific abnormalities

1st investigation
  • cytogenetic analysis for the karyotype of products of conception:

    chromosomal abnormalities detected

    More
  • CBC:

    normal

  • blood group and antibodies:

    no antibodies

  • antiphospholipid antibody screen:

    normal

    More
  • cytogenetic analysis of blood for the karyotype of both partners:

    normal

  • pelvic ultrasound scan (transabdominal or transvaginal, ideally 3-dimensional):

    normal

    More
Other investigations
  • :

    More
  • thrombophilia screen:

    normal

    More

Chronic endometritis

History

often asymptomatic; nonspecific symptoms include pelvic pain, vaginal discharge, dyspareunia and abnormal uterine bleeding

Exam

suprapubic and uterine tenderness

1st investigation
  • endometrial biopsy:

    histologic appearance of endometritis with or without CD138 staining

Other investigations
  • hysteroscopy:

    diffuse hyperemia (“strawberry” appearance), focal hyperemia, punctate hemorrhages, stromal edema, micropolyps

Uncommon

Parental chromosomal abnormality

History

may be a family history of recurrent miscarriage or congenital abnormalities

Exam

no specific abnormalities

1st investigation
  • cytogenetic analysis of blood for the karyotype of both partners:

    chromosomal abnormality detected

    More
  • CBC:

    normal

  • blood group and antibodies:

    no antibodies

  • antiphospholipid antibody screen:

    normal

    More
  • cytogenetic analysis for the karyotype of products of conception:

    occasionally normal

  • pelvic ultrasound scan (transabdominal or transvaginal, ideally 3-dimensional):

    normal

    More
Other investigations
  • thrombophilia screen:

    normal

    More

Antiphospholipid syndrome

History

previous history of thrombotic event, thrombotic event in family member, autoimmune disease

Exam

no specific abnormalities

1st investigation
  • antiphospholipid antibody screen:

    ELISA for IgG and/or IgM anticardiolipin (aCL) antibodies: medium or high titers (>99th percentile) in 2 or more tests at least 12 weeks apart; activated partial thromboplastin time (lupus APTT): prolonged in 2 or more tests at least 12 weeks apart if lupus anticoagulant present; dilute Russell viper venom time (DRVVT): increased in 2 or more tests at least 12 weeks apart if lupus anticoagulant present; kaolin clotting time (KCT): increased test-control ratio in 2 or more tests at least 12 weeks apart if lupus anticoagulant present; ELISA for IgG and/or IgM anti-beta-2 glycoprotein-1 antibodies: medium or high titers (>99th percentile) in 2 or more tests at least 12 weeks apart

    More
  • CBC:

    normal

  • blood group and antibodies:

    no antibodies

  • cytogenetic analysis for the karyotype of products of conception:

    normal

  • pelvic ultrasound scan (transabdominal or transvaginal, ideally 3-dimensional):

    normal

    More
Other investigations
  • thrombophilia screen:

    normal

    More

Cervical insufficiency

History

history of painless dilatation of the cervix or spontaneous rupture of membranes followed by a second-trimester miscarriage

Exam

no specific abnormalities

1st investigation
  • pelvic ultrasound scan (transabdominal or transvaginal, ideally 3-dimensional):

    normal; measurement of cervix may be performed but is not diagnostic

    More
  • CBC:

    normal

  • blood group and antibodies:

    no antibodies

  • serum antiphospholipid antibody screen:

    normal

    More
  • cytogenetic analysis for the karyotype of products of conception:

    normal

Other investigations
  • thrombophilia screen:

    normal

    More

Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus

History

polyuria, polydipsia, blurred vision, paresthesia, fatigue or lethargy, weight loss; may be a family history of diabetes mellitus; diabetic ketoacidosis (nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain); prior history of type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus

Exam

tachypnea, signs of skin infection

1st investigation
  • random blood glucose:

    ≥200 mg/dL

    More
  • CBC:

    normal

  • blood group and antibodies:

    no antibodies

  • serum antiphospholipid antibody screen:

    normal

    More
  • cytogenetic analysis for the karyotype of products of conception:

    normal

  • pelvic ultrasound scan (transabdominal or transvaginal, ideally 3-dimensional):

    normal

    More
Other investigations
  • fasting blood glucose:

    >125 mg/dL

    More
  • 75 g oral glucose tolerance test:

    2-hour postload glucose ≥200 mg/dL

    More
  • thrombophilia screen:

    normal

    More

Uncontrolled thyroid dysfunction

History

hypothyroidism: cold sensitivity, dry skin, fatigue, weight gain, constipation, menstrual irregularity; hyperthyroidism: heat intolerance, palpitations, sweating, weight loss, tremor, irritability, menstrual irregularity

Exam

hypothyroidism: dry skin, bradycardia, facial edema, goiter; hyperthyroidism: tachycardia, chemosis, proptosis, lid retraction, tremor, goiter

1st investigation
  • serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH):

    primary hypothyroidism: elevated; hyperthyroidism: suppressed

    More
  • serum free thyroxine:

    hypothyroidism: below normal range; hyperthyroidism: above normal range

    More
  • CBC:

    normal

  • blood group and antibodies:

    no antibodies

  • serum antiphospholipid antibody screen:

    normal

    More
  • cytogenetic analysis for the karyotype of products of conception:

    normal

  • pelvic ultrasound scan (transabdominal or transvaginal, ideally 3-dimensional):

    normal

    More
Other investigations
  • thrombophilia screen:

    normal

    More

Thrombophilias

History

previous history of thrombosis; thrombotic event in first- or second-degree relatives

Exam

no specific abnormalities

1st investigation
  • thrombophilia screen:

    factor V Leiden (FVL) gene mutation: heterozygous or homozygous; activated protein C (APC) resistance assay: resistance ratio >1.2; prothrombin G20210A gene mutation: present; protein S assay: <70%; protein C assay: <50%; antithrombin III activity: <80%

    More
  • CBC:

    normal

  • blood group and antibodies:

    no antibodies

  • serum antiphospholipid antibody screen: ELISA for IgG and/or IgM anticardiolipin (aCL) antibodies:

    normal range

  • serum antiphospholipid antibody screen:

    normal

    More
  • cytogenetic analysis for the karyotype of products of conception:

    normal

  • pelvic ultrasound scan (transabdominal or transvaginal, ideally 3-dimensional):

    normal

    More
Other investigations

    Uterine abnormalities (e.g., bicornuate, septate, or arcuate uterus)

    History

    no specific features

    Exam

    no specific abnormalities

    1st investigation
    • pelvic ultrasound scan (transabdominal or transvaginal, ideally 3-dimensional):

      structural abnormality seen

    • CBC:

      normal

    • blood group and antibodies:

      no antibodies

    • serum antiphospholipid antibody screen:

      normal

      More
    • cytogenetic analysis for the karyotype of products of conception:

      normal

    Other investigations
    • hysteroscopy:

      structural abnormality seen

      More
    • thrombophilia screen:

      normal

      More

    Bacterial vaginosis

    History

    history of previous second-trimester miscarriage

    Exam

    fishy-smelling vaginal discharge

    1st investigation
    • CBC:

      normal

    • blood group and antibodies:

      no antibodies

    • serum antiphospholipid antibody screen:

      normal

      More
    • cytogenetic analysis for the karyotype of products of conception:

      normal

    • pelvic ultrasound scan (transabdominal or transvaginal, ideally 3-dimensional):

      normal

    Other investigations
    • high vaginal swab for wet mount microscopy, pH, Gram stain, and culture:

      wet mount microscopy: clue cells present, the numbers of lactobacilli are decreased, and WBCs are absent; vaginal pH: increased (usually >4.5); Gram stain: reduced or absent lactobacilli; culture: increased Gardnerella vaginalis, Mycoplasma hominis, and gram-negative anaerobes

      More
    • thrombophilia screen:

      normal

      More

    Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)

    History

    menstrual irregularities, acne, hirsutism, subfertility

    Exam

    commonly, elevated BMI

    1st investigation
    • serum testosterone:

      elevated

    • pelvic ultrasound scan:

      enlarged ovaries with at least 20 follicles in each ovary measuring 2-9 mm in diameter and/or increased ovarian volume (>10 mL)

    • CBC:

      normal

    • blood group and antibodies:

      no antibodies

    • random blood glucose:

      may be elevated

      More
    • serum antiphospholipid antibody screen:

      normal

      More
    • cytogenetic analysis for the karyotype of products of conception:

      normal

    Other investigations
    • day 1-3 follicle-stimulating hormone:

      normal

      More
    • serum estradiol:

      normal

      More
    • serum LH:

      elevated

    • thrombophilia screen:

      normal

      More

    Smoking, caffeine intake

    History

    history of smoking and caffeine ingestion

    Exam

    no specific abnormalities

    1st investigation
    • CBC:

      normal

    • blood group and antibodies:

      no antibodies

    • serum antiphospholipid antibody screen:

      normal

      More
    • cytogenetic analysis for the karyotype of products of conception:

      normal

    • pelvic ultrasound scan (transabdominal or transvaginal, ideally 3-dimensional):

      normal

      More
    Other investigations
    • thrombophilia screen:

      normal

      More

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