A new study presented at the ESHRE 40th Annual Meeting highlights a significant association between familial endocrine diseases and heightened risk of pregnancy loss among women.
Key Findings:
Increased Risk Due to Family History:
Women with a family history of endocrine diseases (such as type 2 diabetes, thyroid diseases, and polycystic ovary syndrome) faced higher risks of pregnancy loss.
Specifically, having a parent diagnosed with an endocrine disease increased the risk by 6%, while having a sister with such a condition raised the risk by 7%.
Underlying Mechanisms:
The study suggests that shared genetic backgrounds, possibly involving high-risk human leukocyte antigens (HLAs), may contribute to both endocrine diseases and pregnancy loss.
HLAs are crucial in immune system function and could play a role in predisposing individuals to these conditions.
Association with Number of Losses:
Women with endocrine diseases showed increased risks of pregnancy loss correlated with the number of losses:
15% higher risk with one loss.
30% higher risk with two losses.
81% higher risk with three or more losses.
Clinical Implications:
Understanding these shared mechanisms could lead to novel preventive and therapeutic strategies to mitigate the risk of pregnancy loss.
Health care providers are encouraged to consider family history when diagnosing and managing women with recurrent pregnancy loss.
Conclusion:
This pioneering research underscores the importance of considering familial endocrine diseases in assessing the risk of pregnancy loss. It opens avenues for further exploration into genetic and immune factors that contribute to both conditions, potentially paving the way for more effective interventions and personalized care strategies for affected women.
Expert Commentary:
Dr. Pia Egerup from Copenhagen University Hospital emphasizes the study’s contribution to understanding the genetic underpinnings of pregnancy loss in the context of endocrine diseases. Professor Dr. Carlos Calhaz-Jorge stresses the importance of integrating family history assessments into prenatal care to inform tailored preventive measures.
This study represents a critical step toward addressing the complexities of pregnancy loss, offering hope for future advancements in maternal health care.
