pregnancy and recurrent thromboembolism

Last reviewed 01/2018

In a prospective study of 125 women with a single previous episode of venous thromboembolism, antepartum heparin was withheld, but heparin was given 4-6 weeks post-partum.

• 3 (2.4%) women had reccurrence of antepartum venous thromboembolism
• study authors concluded that the risk of reccurrent antepartum venous thromboembolism is low and that antepartum heparin prohpylaxis is not warranted (1)

Reference:

• Brill-Edwards et al. (2000) Safety of withholding heparin in pregnant women with a history of venous thromboembolism. NEJM 343;1439-1444