First Trimester Bleeding and Pregnancy Outcome in Gravidas with Normal and Low Folate Levels

Ran Neiger; Charlotte Wise; Stephen A. Contag; Marea B. Tumber; Jacob A. Canick

doi:10.1055/s-2007-994632

American Journal of Perinatology, Table of Contents

Am J Perinatol 1993; 10(6): 460-462
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-994632

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

First Trimester Bleeding and Pregnancy Outcome in Gravidas with Normal and Low Folate Levels

Ran Neiger¹ , Charlotte Wise² , Stephen A. Contag¹ , Marea B. Tumber³ , Jacob A. Canick³

¹Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island
²Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Providence, Rhode Island
³Department of Pathology, Brown University/Women and Infants Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island

Abstract

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to examine whether women with first trimester uterine bleeding and low serum folate have a higher incidence of spontaneous abortions and adverse perinatal outcome compared with women whose folate levels are normal. Serum folate and vitamin B₁₂ levels were obtained on 225 women who presented with first trimester vaginal bleeding; pregnancy outcomes of those whose folate or vitamin B₁₂ levels were low were compared with those with normal levels using the chi-square test. Of the 151 women included, 52 had low folate levels (less than 4.0 ng/ml). Their spontaneous abortion rate and perinatal outcomes were similar to those whose folate levels were normal. We concluded that in pregnancies complicated by first trimester vaginal bleeding, low folate levels do not appear to be associated with an increased risk of pregnancy loss and adverse outcome.

Full Text