Key result
Oral anticoagulants throughout pregnancy caused no coumarin embryopathy, whereas first-trimester heparin was linked to two cases of life-threatening valve thrombosis.
Why the study?
Does the use of oral anticoagulants throughout pregnancy compared to subcutaneous heparin in the first trimester improve safety and prevent complications in pregnant women with mechanical heart valves?
Cohort (n=63)
Does the use of oral anticoagulants throughout pregnancy compared to subcutaneous heparin in the first trimester improve safety and prevent complications in pregnant women with mechanical heart valves?
Continuous use of oral anticoagulants throughout pregnancy in women with mechanical heart valves may prevent life-threatening valve thrombosis without causing coumarin embryopathy, challenging the routine use of first-trimester heparin.
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May support uninterrupted oral anticoagulation in pregnant mechanical valve patients; leaves open need for randomized confirmation before practice change.
Al-Lawati et al. (2002) conducted a cohort in Pregnancy with mechanical heart valves (n=63). Oral anticoagulants throughout pregnancy vs. Subcutaneous heparin in the 1st trimester and oral anticoagulants for the rest of pregnancy was evaluated on Anticoagulant related complications (coumarin embryopathy, maternal death, valve thrombosis, spontaneous abortion). Oral anticoagulants throughout pregnancy caused no coumarin embryopathy, whereas first-trimester heparin was linked to two cases of life-threatening valve thrombosis.
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