Randomised controlled trial of aspirin and aspirin plus heparin in pregnant women with recurrent miscarriage associated with phospholipid antibodies (or antiphospholipid antibodies)

I am not a Doctor, Health Economist or even a Researcher, I am
however a woman, who after suffering two miscarriages, finally gave birth
to a healthy child after being treated for Antiphospholipid Syndrome with
something as simple as low does aspirin.

Ever since the birth of my daughter I have often wondered why there
has never been any research into whether it would be beneficial to test
women for AS in early pregnancy as a matter of course, just as they are
tested for Rubella for example.

Statistics seem to show that once treated with aspirin or heparin,
women suffering with AS have a significantly better chance of carrying a
child full term.

Unfortunately for some reason, until a woman has had three
miscarriages, nothing is recognised as untoward, it is just put down to
"one of those things". Therefore they are not referred for any further
tests.

After the first two miscarriages I joined a support group, which was
where I first heard of AS. I decided I really did not fancy waiting until
I had had my third miscarriage before being tested. I paid privately
(which if I remember correctly was not a particularly significant sum) to
be tested for AS. My results were positive! If I had not been so
determined I could have well gone on to have a third miscarriage. As it
was I may have lost two babies that I need not have lost if I had been
tested at the beginning of my first pregnancy.

Working in a Health Economics Group, I have often thought that there
must be some good material here for some economic research. The cost of
routinely testing women in early pregnancy compared to the thousands of
miscarriages which may well happen unnecessarily, the D&C costs,
hospital stay overnight and drugs, not to mention any counselling required
or the complete devastation a women has to endure. Surely research would
be appropriate here?

As I said initially, I have no qualifications as far as the Medical
Profession goes, I do however feel qualified through my experiences to
voice my opinion and would be extremely happy if anyone could enlighten me
with any further information.

Jo Holland