title: Early antiplatelet and antithrombotic therapy in patients with a history of recurrent miscarriages of known and unknown aetiology.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the efficacy of early thromboprophylaxis throughout pregnancy in women with previous history of first trimester recurrent miscarriages of unknown aetiology.
  
  
  METHODS
  Low dose aspirin and low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) were administered from the day of detection of the fetal heart up to the 37th week, in two groups of patients of known (Group A, n = 24) and unknown aetiology recurrent miscarriages (Group B, n = 27).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The success rate (viable pregnancy >24 weeks) was high and equally effective in both Groups A and B (83.3% and 85.1%, respectively). The complications recorded (pre-eclampsia, IUGR, placenta abruptio, injection site heamatomas and skin reactions) were more prevalent in Group A but of no significant difference. No abnormal bleeding was observed during vaginal delivery or caesarean section.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results reaffirm previous reports that the use of LMWH in combination with low dose aspirin throughout pregnancy is safe and effective. It was also shown that the treatment is equally effective against recurrent miscarriages in both groups of patients, of known and unknown aetiology.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Hippokrateio Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. tzafetas@the.forthnet.gr
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tzafettas
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Petropoulos
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Psarra
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Delkos
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Papaloukas
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Giannoulis
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kalogiros
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gkoutzioulis
mesh_terms: D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001241:Aspirin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D001241:Aspirin