Thromboembolism and Pregnancy

Jeffrey S. Ginsberg

doi:10.1055/s-0037-1615888

Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Table of Contents

Thromb Haemost 1999; 82(02): 620-625
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1615888

Research Article

Schattauer GmbH

Thromboembolism and Pregnancy

Jeffrey S. Ginsberg

¹From the Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, CANADA

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Introduction

Antithrombotic therapy during pregnancy is used for the treatment and prophylaxis of venous thromboembolic disease, for the prevention and treatment of arterial embolism associated with valvular heart disease and/or prosthetic heart valves, for the prevention of fetal growth retardation and pregnancy loss in patients with antiphospholipid antibodies, and in patients with pregnancy-induced hypertension. Since antithrombotic agents have the potential to produce complications in both the mother and fetus, their use during pregnancy raises concerns. Guidelines are difficult to establish because the evidence upon which recommendations are based is derived primarily from poor-quality studies. This chapter reviews the fetal and maternal effects of antithrombotic agents including oral anticoagulants, unfractionated heparin, low molecular weight heparins (LMWH), and aspirin, and provides recommendations for their use during pregnancy.

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References

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