Miscarriages Caused by Blood Coagulation Protein or Platelet Deficits Differential Diagnoses

Updated: Mar 30, 2022
  • Author: George Ansstas, MD; Chief Editor: Perumal Thiagarajan, MD  more...
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DDx

Diagnostic Considerations

A coagulation defect is the single, most common cause of recurrent miscarriage (two or more miscarriages), after hormonal defects and anatomic defects have been eliminated as the cause. Recurrent miscarriage, based upon the available literature and our experience, is generally due to well-defined defects, as follows [1] :

  • About 15% are due to hormonal abnormalities (progesterone, estrogens, diabetes, or thyroid disease
  • About 10% are due to anatomic abnormalities
  • About 7% are secondary to chromosomal abnormalities
  • About 6% cannot be explained
  • The remainder, about 55-62%, are due to blood coagulation protein/platelet defects

The approximate prevalence of causes of recurrent miscarriage syndrome and infertility is summarized in the image below. [1] These are in contrast to first-time miscarriage, which in most cases is due to a chromosomal defect and may affect up to 25% of first pregnancies. [1]

Defects causing recurrent miscarriage. Defects causing recurrent miscarriage.