Dose-Escalated Low Molecular Weight Heparin Provides Effective Anticoagulation for Women with Mechanical Heart Valves during Pregnancy: A Single-Centre Experience

Effective anticoagulation for women with mechanical heart valves during pregnancy remains a major challenge. The use of standard dosage low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) is associated with an unacceptable incidence of morbidity and mortality for this patient group. In this prospective audit of ant...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Blood 2007-11, Vol.110 (11), p.1873-1873
Main Authors: Quinn, John, Brooks, Ruth, Walker, Fiona, Peebles, Donald, Cohen, Hannah
Format: Article
Language:English
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Effective anticoagulation for women with mechanical heart valves during pregnancy remains a major challenge. The use of standard dosage low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) is associated with an unacceptable incidence of morbidity and mortality for this patient group. In this prospective audit of anticoagulation management, we report pregnancy outcome for a cohort of women with mechanical heart valves, who received anticoagulation with a higher dosage LMWH regimen. We audited 12 consecutive pregnancies in 10 women (mean age 27.8 (18–41) years) with mechanical heart valves (mitral 4, aortic 2, aortic and mitral 2, systemic tricuspid AV valve 2). Past obstetric history (on warfarin) included 6 fetal losses: 2 miscarriages
ISSN:0006-4971
1528-0020
DOI:10.1182/blood.V110.11.1873.1873