Abstract
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of oral administration of a combination of alpha- lipoic acid (ALA) and myo-inositol (Myo) on serum and endometrial inflammation of women with unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss (uRPL). METHODS: Serum and endometrial levels of Nacht leucine-rich-repeat protein-3 (NLRP-3) and High Mobility Group Box 1 (HMGB-1) were analyzed by ELISA in women with unexplained Recurrent Pregnancy Loss (uRPL) (n = 31) and in control women who had had at least one uncomplicated pregnancy at term (n = 10) before and after daily oral administration of a commercial combination of ALA and Myo. RESULTS: uRPL women had higher serum levels (p < 0.01) and endometrial content (p < 0.0001) of HMGB-1 than controls while no difference was observed regarding NALP3. Oral administration of ALA and Myo for three months significantly decreased pre-treatment serum levels of NLRP-3 (p < 0.0001) and HMGB-1 (p < 0.0001), as well as endometrial content of NLRP-3 (p < 0.001) and HMGB-1 (p < 0.0001) in uRPL women, similar to those found in controls. CONCLUSION: Women with uRPL have increased systemic and endometrial inflammation than controls. Oral administration of ALA and Myo could modulate serum and endometrial levels of NLRP-3 and HMGB-1 in uRPL women.