Is there a safe anticoagulation protocol for pregnant women with prosthetic valves?
Arnaout, M.S.; Kazma, H.; Khalil, A.; Shasha, N.; Nasrallah, A.; Karam, K.; Alam, S.E.
Clinical and Experimental Obstetrics and Gynecology 25(3): 101-104
1998
ISSN/ISBN: 0390-6663 PMID: 9856311 Document Number: 484576
We studied the outcome of 41 pregnancies in an attempt to identify an appropriate and safe anticoagulant regimen for pregnant women with cardiac valve prosthesis. The cumulative number of events: (neonatal death, premature deliveries, intrauterine fetal death and spontaneous abortion) was 66.6%, 20%, 12.5% and 20% in the Coumadin, Fraxiparine, Heparin and porcine valve groups, respectively. We conclude that in pregnant women with mechanical heart valves, low molecular weight heparin therapy is a superior strategy compared to warfarin.