Background: During clinical evaluation of young women with peripheral arterial occlusive disease, we were surprised by the high prevalence of pregnancy loss in women with segmental stenosis confined to the aortoiliac segment. We wondered if increased occurrence of miscarriage is the result of high expression of vascular and obstetrical risk factors in these patients, or if it is related to localization of disease. In a case-control study designed to investigate risk factors for peripheral arterial occlusive disease in young women, we assessed the risk of miscarriage in these patients according to level of obstruction.
Methods: A total of 202 female patients, aged 18-49 years and 466 healthy control women from a population based case-control study, donated venous blood samples and filled out a structured questionnaire concerning classical cardiovascular risk factors and obstetrical history. In all patients, diagnosis of peripheral arterial occlusive disease was confirmed by intra-arterial angiography. Patients were classified into two groups: those with and those without stenosis of the aortoiliac segment (aortoiliac disease).
Results: In 77 of the 202 patients (38%) with peripheral arterial occlusive disease, the obstruction was confined to the aortoiliac segment. The occurrence of miscarriage was high (42%) in young women with aortoiliac disease. Compared to healthy controls, the risk of miscarriage increased 3-fold (OR 3.1; 95% CI 1.8-5.6) in these patients. Adjustment for obstetrical and vascular risk factors did not affect the risk estimate.
Conclusion: This is the first study that identifies aortoiliac disease as a risk factor for pregnancy loss in young women. The risk of miscarriage is increased 3-fold in women with aortoiliac disease. The presence of vascular and obstetrical risk factors did not affect the strength of the association. Pregnancy loss could be the first sign of insufficient aortic circulation in these patients.