S R Kahn1. 1. Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Community Studies and the Division of General Internal Medicine, Sir Mortimer B. Davis Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. susank@epid.jgh.mcgill.ca
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Inherited thrombophilic disorders are associated with an increased risk of venous thromboembolism during pregnancy. Preliminary research suggests that these disorders might also increase the risk for preeclampsia. CASE: A 29-year-old primigravida developed severe, early onset preeclampsia and postpartum deep venous thrombosis. Subsequent testing revealed coinheritance of the factor V Leiden mutation and protein S deficiency. Heparin prophylaxis was administered during two subsequent pregnancies without recurrence of either preeclampsia or venous thromboembolism. CONCLUSION: Our patient's inherited thrombophilia may have played a role in the development of preeclampsia, and anticoagulation during subsequent pregnancies may have prevented preeclampsia recurrence. An association between inherited thrombophilic disorders and preeclampsia is biologically plausible.
BACKGROUND: Inherited thrombophilic disorders are associated with an increased risk of venous thromboembolism during pregnancy. Preliminary research suggests that these disorders might also increase the risk for preeclampsia. CASE: A 29-year-old primigravida developed severe, early onset preeclampsia and postpartum deep venous thrombosis. Subsequent testing revealed coinheritance of the factor V Leiden mutation and protein S deficiency. Heparin prophylaxis was administered during two subsequent pregnancies without recurrence of either preeclampsia or venous thromboembolism. CONCLUSION: Our patient's inherited thrombophilia may have played a role in the development of preeclampsia, and anticoagulation during subsequent pregnancies may have prevented preeclampsia recurrence. An association between inherited thrombophilic disorders and preeclampsia is biologically plausible.