title: Peripartum pulmonary embolism.
abstract: Pregnancy is an example of Virchow's triad predisposing to the development of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Specific risk factors for antepartum and postpartum VTE have been identified. The diagnosis of pulmonary embolism in pregnancy is complicated by the physiologic changes of pregnancy as well as physicians' apprehension about ordering radiologic studies during pregnancy because of concerns with fetal well-being. Therapy for VTE is complicated by pregnancy physiology affecting medication pharmacokinetics and bioavailability, and the unpredictable occurrence of labor during therapeutic anticoagulation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Obstetric and Consultative Medicine, Women and Infants' Hospital of Rhode Island, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, 100 Dudley Street, Suite 1100, Providence, RI 02905, USA. Electronic address: Mamiller@wihri.org.
authors.forename: Margaret A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Staten Island University Hospital, 475 Seaview Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10305, USA.
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chalhoub
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Women and Infants' Hospital of Rhode Island, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, 100 Dudley Street, Suite 1100, Providence, RI 02905, USA.
authors.forename: Ghada
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bourjeily
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008428:Maternal Mortality; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011379:Prognosis; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology