title: Heparin and maternal fetal interface: why should it work to prevent pregnancy complications?
abstract: Anticoagulant therapy has been used extensively for the prevention of recurrent pregnancy losses, and other placenta mediated complications, including prevention of preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction. While heparin anticoagulation is a standard treatment for antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, it is increasingly being used in the prevention of placenta mediated complications. In this article, we explore the role of heparin at maternal-fetal interface, the molecular mechanism of action for heparin, and ongoing basic and translational work being done to elucidate heparin's principal mechanisms of action.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology Unit 3, Civil Hospital & Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan. Nazli.hossain@duhs.edu.pk
authors.forename: Nazli
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hossain
authors.forename: Frederick
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schatz
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Paidas
mesh_terms: D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003165:Complement System Proteins; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death; D006493:Heparin / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D010922:Placenta Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011250:Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012306:Risk; D019851:Thrombophilia / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D006493:Heparin; D003165:Complement System Proteins