title: Thrombosis during pregnancy and the postpartum period.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the circumstances surrounding deep vein thrombosis among pregnant or postpartum patients enrolled in a large multicenter registry.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive patients with ultrasound-confirmed deep vein thrombosis were enrolled at 183 institutions during a 6-month period from October 2001 to March 2002. Fifty-three who were either pregnant or within 6 weeks postpartum were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-four were pregnant and 19 were postpartum. Among those pregnant, 44% experienced deep vein thrombosis in the first trimester, 24% in the second, and 26% in the third. Deep vein thrombosis occurred in the left lower extremity in 76% of the pregnant and 47% of the postpartum women. Four pregnant and 2 postpartum women had pelvic vein thrombosis. Among those postpartum, 74% had undergone surgery within 3 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  During pregnancy, the risk of deep vein thrombosis begins in the first trimester. Thus, we believe that when prophylaxis is indicated, it should be initiated early in gestation.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710 and Cardiovascular Division, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA. andra.james@duke.edu
authors: Andra H
authors: AH
authors: James
authors: Victor F
authors: VF
authors: Tapson
authors: Samuel Z
authors: SZ
authors: Goldhaber
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006493:Heparin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply; D010388:Pelvis / Q000098:blood supply; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D019851:Thrombophilia / Q000453:epidemiology; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D014680:Veins; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D006493:Heparin