The Role of Anticoagulants in the Prevention of Pregnancy Complications

Abstract

The role of anticoagulants in the prevention of pregnancy complications, including recurrent miscarriage, late fetal loss, and preeclampsia, continues to be an area of active research and debate. Although prophylactic anticoagulation with heparin and aspirin is considered the standard of care in some conditions, such as obstetric antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, the optimal management of pregnant women with factor V Leiden mutation, prothrombin G20210A mutation, and other inherited thrombophilias without a history of thrombosis remains unknown. Some studies suggest a benefit of heparins in preventing late-term losses but not earlier miscarriages in the inherited thrombophilias. In the following review, we will discuss the recent literature regarding anticoagulation and pregnancy complications and conclude with our suggested approach to the management of these challenging patients.