Hereditary Thrombophilia and Risk for Pregnancy-Associated Venous Thromboembolism

Inherited thrombophilias are occasionally discovered in women with no history of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Pregnancy is thought to increase their risk for thrombosis but whether family history of VTE increases that risk further is unclear.

To assess the risk for gestational VTE in women with inherited thrombophilias, and to determine whether risk is associated with family history of VTE in first-degree relatives, investigators conducted a retrospective study involving 243 consecutive patients with a history of peripartum VTE and 243 age-matched controls with at least one prior pregnancy and no history of VTE. Blood samples were tested for factor V Leiden mutation, prothrombin G20210A, and deficiencies of antithrombin, protein C, and prot…