A case of a pregnant patient with antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, deep vein thrombosis, and heparin-induced thrombocytopenia who suffered an intrauterine fetal death

Abstract

Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune disease caused by the persistence of antiphospholipid antibodies. Moreover, there is a significantly increased risk of pregnancy complications in women with APS. The treatment is antithrombotic therapy. However, heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is known as a severe complication of heparin utilization. HIT is an autoimmune disease caused by anti-heparin antibodies. Nevertheless, patients with APS frequently receive heparin as treatment for thrombotic events. The authors report a case of a Japanese woman with Sjogren's syndrome (SjS) and deep vein thrombosis who became pregnant following assisted reproduction technology. However, she suffered an intrauterine fetal death associated with HIT.