[Anticoagulation during pregnancy following an artificial heart valve replacement].
METHODS
A 23-year-old woman had received a mechanical bileaflet mitral valve prosthesis because of severe mitral valve insufficiency caused by an acute bacterial endocarditis with vegetations. One year after the operation the patient suffered on two miscarriages under oral anticoagulation by phenprocoumon. Present, she was referred to our center with the question of conversion to low molecular weight heparine because of continued yearning for a baby.


METHODS
At admission the woman was in good general and nutritional condition. Echocardiography showed a regular prosthetic function. Blood analysis, electrolyte parameters and enzyme values were normal, further laboratory investigations revealed a factor-V-Leiden-mutation. A chromosomal analysis detected no aberrations.


METHODS
The oral anticoagulation by phenprocoumon was switched to subcutaneous low molecular weight heparine in therapeutical dosage. Anti-factor-Xa-activity was controlled at regular intervals. Further pregnancy was uneventful for both, mother and child. A healthy infant was born by caesarean section at 40 (th) week of gestation.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment with anticoagulation by phenprocoumon is indispensable for mechanical heart valve protheses. Conversion to low molecular weight heparine is possible in patients who insistent request to conceive. The anticoagulation by low molecular weight heparine avoids teratogenic effects during pregnancy because the placenta is impermeable to that heparin. Furthermore, prophylaxis of thromoses by low molecular weight heparine is probably in almost the same manner as by phenprocoumon.
Strecker
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Herzchirurgische Klinik, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen. thomas.strecker@uk-erlangen.de
Zimmermann
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I
Schlüter
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Feyrer
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R
D000014:Abnormalities, Drug-Induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000150:complications; D005165:Factor V / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D008943:Mitral Valve; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D010644:Phenprocoumon / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055815:Young Adult
D000925:Anticoagulants; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight; C095381:factor V Leiden; D005165:Factor V; D010644:Phenprocoumon