title: Frequency of thrombophilia in patients with adverse pregnancy outcome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the association between adverse pregnancy outcomes and thrombophilia.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a descriptive study, incorporating retrospective analysis of patients with recurrent pregnancy losses, intrauterine deaths, abruptio placenta and early onset pre eclampsia. Patients with adverse pregnancy outcomes in whom co-morbid factors were excluded underwent screening for both acquired and inherited thrombophilia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 40 patients were screened for acquired and inherited thrombophilia with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Anticardiolipin antibodies were found positive in 55% of patients and 45% of patients were found deficient for natural anticoagulants protein C and S. Two patients were found positive for both acquired and inherited thrombophilia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thrombophilia, both acquired and inherited are associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Patients in whom other co-morbid factors are excluded, should be offered screening for thrombophilia. Liaison between hematologist and obstetrician is the corner stone for success.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Unit 2, Civil Hospital, Karachi.
authors.forename: Nazli
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hossain
authors.forename: Tahir
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shamsi
authors.forename: Nargis
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Soomro
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D011247:Pregnancy; D011250:Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019851:Thrombophilia / Q000453:epidemiology*