title: Failure of high-dose heparin to prevent recurrent cardioembolic strokes in a pregnant patient with a mechanical heart valve.
abstract: A 27-year-old woman with a mechanical heart valve suffered multiple thromboembolic events while pregnant despite anticoagulation with high-dose heparin. Warfarin, the anti-coagulant of choice for patients with prosthetic heart valves, is teratogenic and can cause hemorrhagic complications at delivery. Heparin reduces thromboembolic complications, but is of uncertain efficacy. We discuss alternatives for the prevention of thromboembolic complications in pregnant women with mechanical heart valves.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University Medical Center, CA.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Golby
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Bush
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: DeRook
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Albers
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006493:Heparin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D002542:Intracranial Embolism and Thrombosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012008:Recurrence; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D006493:Heparin