• J E Roeters van Lennep, E Meijer, F J C M Klumper, J M Middeldorp, K W M Bloemenkamp, and S Middeldorp.
• Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands. j.roetersvanlennep@erasmusmc.nl
• J. Thromb. Haemost. 2011 Mar 1;9(3):473-80.

BackgroundThe optimal approach for venous thrombosis (VTE) prophylaxis during pregnancy and postpartum in women with an increased risk of VTE is not established.ObjectivesTo evaluate the effectiveness, represented as the incidence of pregnancy-related VTE, and safety, represented as incidence of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), of a protocol recommending prophylaxis with low-dose low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) in women at intermediate to high risk of VTE.Patients/MethodsIn this retrospective cohort study, we analyzed 34 women (44 pregnancies) with intermediate risk of VTE who received low-dose LMWH for 6 weeks postpartum and 57 women (82 pregnancies) with high risk of VTE who received low-dose LMWH during pregnancy and for 6 weeks postpartum. Pregnancy-related VTE was defined as VTE during pregnancy or ≤ 3 months postpartum. PPH was defined as blood loss >500 mL and severe PPH as blood loss > 1000 mL.ResultsThe incidence of pregnancy-related VTE was 5.5% (95% CI, 2.4-12.3) despite prophylaxis with low-dose LMWH. All events occurred in women at high risk, with a postpartum incidence of 7.0% (95% CI, 2.9-16.7) and antepartum incidence of 1.8% (95% CI, 0.4-9.2). The risk of PPH was 21.6% (95% CI, 14.3-31.3) and severe PPH 9.1% (95% CI, 4.7-16.9), which was not different in women who started LMWH postpartum and those who used LMWH during pregnancy.ConclusionsAlthough prophylaxis with low-dose LMWH during pregnancy and postpartum proved to be safe, the risk of pregnancy-related VTE is considerable in women with a high risk of VTE. VTE prophylaxis with low-dose LMWH may not be sufficiently effective in these women.© 2011 International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis.

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