Differentials
Common
Idiopathic recurrent miscarriage
History
3 or more consecutive miscarriages where no cause is found
Exam
no specific abnormalities
1st investigation
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 - FBC:
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
- thrombophilia screen:
normal
More
Chronic endometritis
History
often asymptomatic; non-specific symptoms include pelvic pain, vaginal discharge, dyspareunia and abnormal vaginal bleeding
Exam
suprapubic and uterine tenderness
1st investigation
- endometrial biopsy:
histologic appearance of endometritis with or without CD138 staining
Other investigations
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 - FBC:
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 titres (>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 titres (>99th percentile) in 2 or more tests at least 12 weeks apart
More - FBC:
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 incompetence
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 - FBC:
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, paraesthesia, 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
tachypnoea, signs of skin infection
1st investigation
- random blood glucose:
≥11.1 mmol/L (≥200 mg/dL)
More - FBC:
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
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 oedema, goitre; hyperthyroidism: tachycardia, chemosis, proptosis, lid retraction, tremor, goitre
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 - FBC:
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 - FBC:
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
- FBC:
normal
- blood group and antibodies:
no antibodies
- serum antiphospholipid antibody screen:
normal
More - cytogenetic analysis for the karyotype of products of conception:
normal
Bacterial vaginosis
History
history of previous second-trimester miscarriage
Exam
fishy-smelling vaginal discharge
1st investigation
- FBC:
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)
- FBC:
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
Smoking, caffeine intake
History
history of smoking and caffeine ingestion
Exam
no specific abnormalities
1st investigation
Other investigations
- thrombophilia screen:
normal
More
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