Clinical characteristics and type of thrombophilia in women with pregnancy-related venous thromboembolic disease

Abstract

Background: Normal pregnancy is characterized by numerous changes in the hemostatic system, creating the hypercoagulable state which increases the risk of venous thromboembolic event (VTE) occurrence. The risk is further increased by the presence of inherited or acquired thrombophilia. Objective: In this study, we aimed to determine the prevalence of different types of thrombophilia in women with pregnancy-related VTE, and to investigate the possible connection between the type of thrombophilia and localization of VTE as well as the gestational age of VTE occurrence. Participants and Methods: Two hundred and two women with the first episode of pregnancy-related VTE and 130 controls were investigated. The antithrombin, protein C and protein S activity, APC resistance, FVG1691A, and FIIG20210A were determined. None of the investigated women was pregnant at the time of thrombophilia testing, and none was using oral contraceptives. Results: Thrombophilia was diagnosed in 95 patients (47%) and 7 controls (5.4%). The prevalence of FV Leiden, FIIG20210A mutations, antithrombin, PC and PS deficiencies taken together and combined thrombophilia was 22.3, 10.4, 6.9 and 6.9%, respectively. Significantly more frequent antepartum occurrence of VTE (11 vs. 3, p < 0.05) was found in women with natural coagulation inhibitor deficiency. Pulmonary embolism occurred more frequently in nonthrombophilic women (25 vs. 3, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Inherited thrombophilia was found to be considerably more frequently present in women with pregnancy- and puerperium-related VTE compared to healthy controls. Women with thrombophilia are at higher risk of developing thromboses localized in the iliacofemoral region, and women without thrombophilia are at higher risk of developing pulmonary embolism. Deficiency in natural coagulation inhibitors is associated with antepartum VTE occurrence. Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel.