A randomised trial has found no benefit to antenatal low molecular weight heparin/dalteparin prescription (commonly prescibed in the UK during pregnancy). Thrombophilia simply means an increased risk of blood clots, for example many women find themselves being offered/given heparin in pregnancy because they have three or more of the following characteristics:
Age >35 years
BMI > 30
Para 3 or more
Smoker
Serious varicose veins
Twin pregnancy
Previous DVT
Pre-eclampsia
The article is here:
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2814%2960793-5/abstract
It's conclusions are:
"Antepartum prophylactic dalteparin does not reduce the occurrence of
venous thromboembolism, pregnancy loss, or placenta-mediated pregnancy
complications in pregnant women with thrombophilia at high risk of these
complications and is associated with an increased risk of minor
bleeding."
"Using low molecular weight heparin unnecessarily medicalizes a woman's pregnancy and is costly."
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