title: Effect of amniotic fluid on coagulation and platelet function in pregnancy: an evaluation using thromboelastography.
abstract: Amniotic fluid embolism is a rare obstetric complication. The exact pathogenesis of this syndrome remains unknown and significant controversy exists whether coagulopathy should always be present. We used thromboelastography to assess the effect of amniotic fluid on coagulation and platelet function in pregnant women. Different volumes of amniotic fluid (10-60 microl) were added to blood (330 microl) from pregnant women and thromboelastography variables determined. There were three important findings. R time, reflecting time to first clot formation, was significantly decreased with the addition of 10 microl amniotic fluid; platelet function, as determined by Reopro-TEG technique, was increased with the addition of 30 microl of amniotic fluid; and there was no evidence of fibrinolysis in any samples studied. In conclusion, our study substantiates the hypothesis that coagulation profile changes are invariable accompaniments of amniotic fluid embolism.
authors.affiliation: Staff Anaesthetist, Department of Anaesthesia, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA. mharnett@partners.org
authors.forename: M J P
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Harnett
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Hepner
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Datta
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Kodali
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000653:Amniotic Fluid; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000502:physiology*; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000502:physiology*; D004619:Embolism, Amniotic Fluid / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D010979:Platelet Function Tests / Q000379:methods; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D013916:Thrombelastography / Q000379:methods