Lupus Anticoagulant -- An antibody causing elevation in partial thromboplastin time (the time needed for plasma to form a clot after the addition of calcium and a phospholipid reagent; used to evaluate the clotting system), ...
lupus anticoagulant antibody -- see immune causes of miscarriage
methotrexate -- a drug used to end an ectopic pregnancy before surgery is necessary. See treatment for ectopic.
Lupus anticoagulant
An abnormal antibody that has been associated with frequent pregnancy loss. The lupus anticoagulant is often found in people with lupus erythematosus, but may also be found in those who do not have true lupus erythematosus.
Immunological factors for pregnancy loss include antiphospholipid antibodies, lupus anticoagulant, antinuclear antibodies, and antithyroid antibodies.
These are called lupus anticoagulant or anticardiolipin or antiphospholipid antibodies. They severely inhibit fetal development (by blocking off the blood supply to the fetus by causing clots in the maternal-fetal circulation) and cause miscarriages.
Empson M, Lassere M, Craig JC, et al. 2005. Prevention of recurrent miscarriage for women with antiphospholipid antibody or lupus anticoagulant. Cochrane Database Systematic Reviews 18(2):CD002859 ...
If needed for arthritic symptoms or by women with the lupus anticoagulant, daily doses of aspirin and the steroid prednisone seem to reduce overall risk of pregnancy complications.
The presence of certain complex antibodies such as the lupus anticoagulant and the anticardiolipin antibodies can cause miscarriages. These factors are not well understood, and there is no agreed upon effective treatment.
 See also: Pregnancy, Lupus, Miscarriage, Pregnant, Uterus
  
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