Related Experiment Videos
Thrombophilia in pregnancy.
1Department of General Medicine, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, 11 Jalan Tan Tock Seng, Singapore 308433. jackie_tan@ttsh.com.sg
Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore
|June 14, 2002
Summary
Thrombophilia, a hypercoagulable state, increases the risk of venous thromboembolism during pregnancy. Identifying at-risk women and providing appropriate thromboprophylaxis is crucial for reducing maternal mortality and morbidity.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Hematology
- Genetics
Background:
- Thrombophilia involves a hypercoagulable state predisposing to thrombosis, encompassing inherited, acquired, and complex forms.
- Pregnancy significantly elevates the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) and associated obstetric complications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review inherited thrombophilias and antiphospholipid syndrome in relation to pregnancy-related VTE.
- To explore the association between thrombophilia and obstetric complications.
Main Methods:
- A Medline search was conducted for articles on thrombophilia, pregnancy-related VTE, and obstetric complications.
- Key complications reviewed include pre-eclampsia, recurrent miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and placental abruption.
Main Results:
- VTE is a leading cause of maternal mortality globally and locally.
- Major VTE risk factors in pregnancy include thrombophilia, operative delivery, advanced maternal age, obesity, and pre-eclampsia.
- Thrombophilia is associated with adverse obstetric outcomes like recurrent miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, pre-eclampsia, and placental abruption.
Conclusions:
- VTE is a multifactorial condition, particularly in pregnancy, where multiple risk factors interact.
- Identifying women at risk and implementing tailored thromboprophylaxis is key to reducing VTE-related morbidity and mortality.
- Further research is needed to define the role of inherited thrombophilia in obstetric complications and optimize screening strategies.