Patient's question:
I am a 28-year-old woman. Last year, I had a pregnancy test which revealed that I had a mycoplasma infection. After taking medication and getting injections for over two months, it still didn't go away. The doctor said that as long as I don't have any symptoms, I don't need to worry about this disease. A few days ago, I had an infertility blood test which showed that I am positive for anticardiolipin antibodies. The doctor said it could lead to infertility or miscarriage. How is this condition produced? How is it treated? Is there a connection between mycoplasma infection and being positive for anticardiolipin antibodies? I have never been pregnant before, nor have I had a miscarriage, and I have never had unprotected sex.Doctor's answer:
The Relationship Between Antiphospholipid Antibodies and Unexplained Fetal Intrauterine Growth RetardationPregnancy complicated by antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) often leads to pregnancy loss, fetal intrauterine growth retardation, preeclampsia, and other complications, with its pathogenesis remaining controversial. It is now believed that antiphospholipid antibodies produced in the body induce thrombus formation, which is the primary factor in placental thrombosis and pregnancy failure. APS frequently causes severe maternal pregnancy complications, such as preeclampsia, recurrent miscarriage, intrauterine fetal death, preterm birth, and adverse fetal outcomes like intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). The appearance of this antibody may be associated with infections, such as mumps and type A hepatitis, but whether it is definitely linked to mycoplasma or chlamydia infections remains unclear. Treatment is relatively simple, involving oral administration of low-dose aspirin.