Thrombophilia and women's health: An overview

Thrombophilia, whether inherited or acquired, is one of the hot topics in women's health. Several factors, some of which are specific to the female patient, enhance thrombus formation in the presence of thrombophilia and include oral contraception, hormone replacement therapy, pregnancy, and puerperium. Thrombotic events are not only restricted to venous thromboembolism but also are believed to cause repeated embryonic loss, fetal loss, placental abruption, intrauterine growth restriction, and severe pre-eclampsia. It seems that some thrombophilias, and a combination of thrombophilic factors, carry a greater risk than others for a given adverse outcome. The addition of LMWH to the armamentarium was associated with conceptual change in the practice of anticoagulation. Care should be exercised in the interpretation of various risks and the potential of anticoagulation as a remedy to reduce that risk.