Is there a safe anticoagulation protocol for pregnant women with prosthetic valves?
We studied the outcome of 41 pregnancies in an attempt to identify an appropriate and safe anticoagulant regimen for pregnant women with cardiac valve prosthesis. The cumulative number of events: (neonatal death, premature deliveries, intrauterine fetal death and spontaneous abortion) was 66.6%, 20%, 12.5% and 20% in the Coumadin, Fraxiparine, Heparin and porcine valve groups, respectively. We conclude that in pregnant women with mechanical heart valves, low molecular weight heparin therapy is a superior strategy compared to warfarin.
Arnaout
M S
MS
Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut, Medical Centre, Lebanon.
Kazma
H
H
Khalil
A
A
Shasha
N
N
Nasrallah
A
A
Karam
K
K
Alam
S E
SE
D000328:Adult; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006493:Heparin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D017762:Nadroparin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D014859:Warfarin / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000925:Anticoagulants; D017762:Nadroparin; D014859:Warfarin; D006493:Heparin