Does anyone know what the arias stella phenomena is?

[Smiepje]

I have had several consecutive miscarriage. The last one when I was on holiday in Switzerland. They did several tests on the fetus after the D&C. I just received the report and it says that it has the Arias Stella phenomena. I have googled it but I don't understand a word of it.

Is there anyone out there who can explain to me what it is.

Thank you

Smiepje

This probably won't help much but it is my understanding that the arias stella reaction is something to do with the way the lining of your uterus thickens, changes and start to become a placenta; it def isn't something to do with / a condition of the fetus. Call your GP, they should be able to translate the medical lingo for you.

I am very sorry for your losses.

The Arias Stella reaction is simply a description of the appearance of the endometrium (lining of the uterus) that is seen classically with pregnancy. It is therefore a normal finding with (pregnancy and) miscarriage. It is not anything to do with the fetus as such.

(The main medical importance of seeing the A-S reaction in tissue from a possible miscarriage is that if A-S endometrium is seen without obvious fetal or placental tissue then ectopic pregnancy remains a possibility. And should be monitored for. Obviously not an issue in this case.)

It's named after A-S who was a pathologist, I believe from Greece.

Hope this is of help. And sorry again.

Thank you both for your help. It is very useful as I can finally understand what is means.

I'm now under the care an obstitrician who has ordered a whole lot of tests (I think the nurse filled up about 14 tubes of blood). I will have the results in a couple of weeks. Hopefully they will find a reason for the miscarriages.

Smiepje