Steroids 145;could prevent146; miscarriages: Study

Researchers in Britain have found that steroids control 8220;killer cells8221; which when present in high numbers in the uterus can promote rapid growth of blood vessels that in turn often cause miscarriages or prevent embryos implanting.

In fact, according to the researchers, the treatment has been shown to reduce the level of natural killer cells in the uterus, and this is thought to increase the chances of an embryo going to full term.

8220;There are thousands of people around the world who are desperate because they keep miscarrying, and there8217;s no cause found and there8217;s no treatment. I8217;m inundated with e-mails. There8217;s a massive, desperate need.

8220;If we have higher levels of natural killer cells in the uterus we have more blood vessels and more blood flow.

We8217;ve been able to find a missing piece of the jigsaw of why some women have multiple miscarriages,8221; 8216;The Times8217; quoted lead researcher Siobhan Quenby as saying.

In their study, Quenby and colleagues at Liverpool University found that tests involving 120 women had identified natural killer cells as a cause of miscarriages and failed IVF embryo implants.

The researchers gave steroids to 40 women and found that three quarters of them, who previously had multiple miscarriages, successfully gave birth.

According to Quenby, a third of miscarriages could be prevented by using steroids.

8220;I8217;ve looked at 430 biopsies and it always comes out as about a third have high natural killer-cell levels.8221;