• M B Fausett, M Vogtlander, R M Lee, M S Esplin, D W Branch, G M Rodgers, and R M Silver.
• Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, UT, USA. merlin.fausett@keesler.af.mil
• Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 2001 Jul 1; 185 (1): 148-52.

ObjectiveThe indications for heparin use during pregnancy are expanding; however, heparin is associated with serious adverse effects including heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. Low-molecular-weight heparin is expensive but is associated with less frequent occurrences of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia in the nonpregnant population. However, the incidence of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia during pregnancy is unknown. The purpose of this study was to compare the incidence of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia in pregnant and nonpregnant women.Study DesignThis is a retrospective cohort comparison. Pregnant and nonpregnant women were identified by means of diagnosis related group and Current Procedural Terminology code searches at three medical centers in Utah; the incidence of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia in the two groups was compared.ResultsThere were 10 (4%) cases of thrombocytopenia among 244 heparin-treated pregnant patients and 26 (11%) cases among the 244 nonpregnant controls. There were no cases of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia in the pregnant group, but there were 10 (4%) cases in the control group (P =.0014).ConclusionHeparin-induced thrombocytopenia is extremely rare in pregnant women.

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