title: Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia is rare in pregnancy.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, UT, USA. merlin.fausett@keesler.af.mil
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Fausett
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vogtlander
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Esplin
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Branch
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Rodgers
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Silver
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D006493:Heparin