Is this the end for miscarriage heartbreak?

bu SUZY AUSTIN, Metro

Last updated at 10:24 24 November 2005


Thousands of women could be spared the heartbreak of miscarriage after a major medical breakthrough.

They could be offered a simple test to see if they are producing enough of a protein which has been linked to development of the placenta.

It will help doctors determine if a woman is liable to miscarry and then offer her treatment.

Support groups have hailed the discovery as "extremely exciting" and say it could have a "huge impact" on affected women.

There are many possible causes for miscarriage, including infections or genetic, hormonal or blood clotting problems. Rates are higher in the over-40s and women who have lost one baby are 20 per cent more likely to lose another.

But a new study of 400 women in Australia determined that women who miscarried had a 70 per cent lower level of the protein, known as macrophage inhibitory cytokine, or MIC1.

Levels started to drop several weeks before the baby was lost, suggesting the fall "fundamentally contributed to the miscarriage", researchers claimed.

Dr Louise Kenny, consultant obstetrician at St Mary's Hospital in Manchester, said: "This is potentially an extremely exciting discovery as it remains a sad fact that about one in four women in the UK will suffer a miscarriage.

"It suggests we will be able to offer a test which will predict whether miscarriage is likely or not, which is something we cannot do at the moment.

"And, if we can simulate the protein, then we may have something which can prevent miscarriage."

Charlotte Davies, of baby charity Tommy's, said: "If we can predict who will experience miscarriage, and even prevent it, it will have a huge impact."

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