Human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) for preventing recurrent miscarriage

Human chorionic gonadotrophin might not be effective for preventing further miscarriage in women with a history of unexplained recurrent miscarriage compared with placebo or no treatment, although the evidence is insufficient.

Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by study limitations (possible selective outcome reporting) and by imprecise results (few patients and outcome events).

Summary

A Cochrane review included 5 studies with a total of 596 subjects. Meta-analysis suggested a statistically significant reduction in miscarriage rate using human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG).The number of women needed to treat to prevent subsequent pregnancy loss was seven. However, when studies of weaker methodological quality were removed, there was no longer a statistically significant benefit (RR 0.74; 95% CI 0.44 to 1.23; 3 trials, n=254). There were no documented adverse effects of using hCG.

Date of latest search: 29 October 2012

Ədəbiyyat

1. Morley LC, Simpson N, Tang T. Human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) for preventing miscarriage. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2013;(1):CD008611.