From Ananova: Between 10% and 15% of pregnancies result in miscarriage, and at present there is no way to identify women at risk. Now scientists believe low levels of an immune system protein known as macrophage inhibitory cytokine 1 (MIC-1) in the early stages of pregnancy could provide a forewarning of miscarriage. The protein may also help in the development of a treatment to prevent miscarriage.

An Australian study found 100 pregnant women who went on to miscarry had MIC-1 levels about a third lower than those of 200 women who delivered normally. MIC-1 concentrations were measured in blood taken during the first six to 13 weeks of pregnancy. In most cases, low MIC-1 levels preceded miscarriage by several weeks.

Stephen Tong, from Monash University, Melbourne, who led the study, said: “In view of the fact that MIC-1 might have actions favouring viability and is strongly localised at the materno-foetal interface, it is tempting to speculate that changed production of MIC-1 in the placenta is part of the mechanism initiating spontaneous pregnancy loss.

“If a causal link between low MIC 1 and miscarriage is confirmed, then MIC-1, or its synthetic analogues, might be useful in prevention of miscarriage.” In the body, MIC-1 is thought to help regulate the activation of macrophages, large white blood cells that ingest foreign invaders.

The findings were reported in the Lancet medical journal. In an accompanying article, Galit Sarig and Benjamin Brenner from Rambam Medical Centre in Haifa, Israel, said: “If Tong and colleagues’ results can be confirmed, the way is open to develop novel therapies to prevent pregnancy loss.”

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Of course, before you can have a miscarriage you’ve got to have a pregnancy, and that’s where Viagra comes in, so to speak. As noted in the Seattle Times, one billion Viagra pills have been taken worldwide since the FDA approved the sex-enhancing drug five years ago. It has become one of the best-known brand names since Coca-Cola. And…there’s a catch. Seems like any time there’s a good thing, there’s always a catch.