Severe preeclampsia in antithrombin III deficiency with no history of venous thromboembolism.
Complications of pregnancy, such as preeclampsia, placental abruption, fetal growth retardation, still-birth and fetal death are associated with an increased frequency of pro-thrombotic abnormalities. We describe a case of severe preeclampsia and multiple placental infarctions in a 28-year-old woman at 31 weeks' gestation. Despite a negative personal history for venous thromboembolism, coagulation screening for thrombophilia detected an isolated antithrombin III deficiency. In view of the high prevalence of pro-thrombotic complications, laboratory screening for thrombophilia would be advantageous in women with complicated pregnancies, to ensure adequate management in high-risk situations, as suggested by larger-scale clinical investigations.
Gammaro
L
L
Division of Nephrology, Verona Hospital, Italy. lgammaro@interfree.it
Lippi
G
G
Bottini
E
E
Valenti
G
G
Manzato
F
F
Tessitore
N
N
Maschio
G
G
D000328:Adult; D020152:Antithrombin III Deficiency / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000209:etiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011250:Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic; D012720:Severity of Illness Index