Low Molecular Weight Heparin As A Prophylaxis For Placenta-mediated Pregnancy Complications

The role of anticoagulant for the prevention of placenta mediated pregnancycomplications is uncertain. The use of Low molecular weight heparins (LMWHs) inobstetric care has grown considerably since their introduction in obstetrics care in theearly1990’s. They are widely used during pregnancy since several randomizedcontrolled trials have demonstrated their important role in preventing not onlythromboembolic disease but also pregnancy complications: fetal growth restrictions(FGR), preeclampsia (PE), placenta abruptio (PA), recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) andintrauterine fetal death (IUFD) in the presence or absence of maternal thrombophilia. Inour review we highlight the association between thrombophilia and placenta mediatedpregnancy complications and report the results of the most relevant trials performed toaccess the efficacy of LMWHs in preventing pregnancy complications associated withor not with maternal thrombophilia. We revealed their effectiveness in reducing therecurrence of negative obstetrics events in patients with or without thrombophiliasdespite the mechanism where LMWHs operate are still unclear. However in order toconfirm the suggested benefits, adequately powered and properly controlled trials areneeded in this area.