Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia is rare in pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
The indications for heparin use during pregnancy are expanding; however, heparin is associated with serious adverse effects including heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. Low-molecular-weight heparin is expensive but is associated with less frequent occurrences of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia in the nonpregnant population. However, the incidence of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia during pregnancy is unknown. The purpose of this study was to compare the incidence of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia in pregnant and nonpregnant women.


METHODS
This is a retrospective cohort comparison. Pregnant and nonpregnant women were identified by means of diagnosis related group and Current Procedural Terminology code searches at three medical centers in Utah; the incidence of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia in the two groups was compared.


RESULTS
There were 10 (4%) cases of thrombocytopenia among 244 heparin-treated pregnant patients and 26 (11%) cases among the 244 nonpregnant controls. There were no cases of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia in the pregnant group, but there were 10 (4%) cases in the control group (P =.0014).


CONCLUSIONS
Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia is extremely rare in pregnant women.
Fausett
M B
MB
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, UT, USA. merlin.fausett@keesler.af.mil
Vogtlander
M
M
Lee
R M
RM
Esplin
M S
MS
Branch
D W
DW
Rodgers
G M
GM
Silver
R M
RM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006493:Heparin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000188:drug therapy; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D013924:Thrombophlebitis / Q000188:drug therapy; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control
D006493:Heparin