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Abstract
Objective. To evaluate the benefit of combined low-molecular-weight (LMW) heparin and aspirin for prophylaxis in women carriers of thrombophilia who had previously suffered from severe obstetric complications.
Methods. The 33 studied women had an earlier pregnancy complicated by severe preeclampsia, abruptio placentae, intrauterine growth retardation, or intrauterine fetal death. All were subsequently diagnosed as carrying inherited thrombophilias. In their subsequent pregnancy, prophylactic therapy consisting of LMW heparin 40 mg/day (Enoxaparin, Rhone-Poulenc-Rorer, France) and aspirin was administered. Patients who were found to be homozygotes for the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase mutation also received folic acid supplementation throughout their pregnancy.
Results. Low-molecular-weight heparin was well tolerated and none of the women or the newborns developed any hemorrhagic complications. Only three (9.1%) of the women developed pregnancy complications. The mean gestational age and the mean birth weight at delivery in the previously complicated pregnancies were 32.1 ± 5.0 weeks and 1175 ± 590 g, respectively, compared to 37.6 ± 2.3 weeks and 2719 ± 526 g, respectively, in the treated pregnancies (p ≤ 0.001).
Conclusions. This uncontrolled trial suggests that patients with obstetric complications and an inherited thrombophilia may benefit from treatment with combined LMW heparin and aspirin in subsequent pregnancies. However, this needs to be verified by controlled trials before considering clinical application.
