title: Antiphospholipid antibody-associated recurrent pregnancy loss: treatment with heparin and low-dose aspirin is superior to low-dose aspirin alone.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to compare the use of low-dose aspirin alone with heparin and low-dose aspirin in the treatment of the antiphospholipid antibody syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective, single-center trial included 50 patients who were alternately assigned to treatment. Each patient had at least three consecutive spontaneous pregnancy losses, positive antiphospholipid antibodies on two occasions, and a complete evaluation. Data were compared by chi(2) analysis and Fisher's exact test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Viable infants were delivered of 11 of 25 (44%) women treated with aspirin and 20 of 25 (80%) women treated with heparin and aspirin (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences between the low-dose aspirin and the heparin plus low-dose aspirin groups with respect to gestational age at delivery (37.8 +/- 2.1 vs 37.2 +/- 3.4 weeks), number of cesarean sections (18% vs 20%), or complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Heparin plus low-dose aspirin provides a significantly better pregnancy outcome than low-dose aspirin alone does for antiphospholipid antibody-associated recurrent pregnancy loss.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas 75235-9032, USA.
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Kutteh
mesh_terms: D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D000328:Adult; D016736:Antiphospholipid Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006493:Heparin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D006493:Heparin; D001241:Aspirin