Obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is the most frequent acquired thrombophilia of autoimmune basis. Pregnancy complications of APS may include recurrent miscarriage, and placental dysfunction presenting as fetal death, prematurity, intrauterine growth restriction and preeclampsia. For the management of obstetric APS, a coordinated medical-obstetric management is essential, and this should start for a preconceptional visit in order to estimate the individual risk for complications, adjust therapies and establish the indications for preconceptional and first-trimester therapy. The basis of APS therapy during pregnancy is low-dose aspirin, combined in certain clinical scenarios with low-molecular weight heparin. Induction of delivery should not be routinely indicated in the absence of maternal and/or fetal complications. Postpartum management should be warranted.

Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.

This review covers obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome, its pregnancy complications (recurrent miscarriage, placental dysfunction, fetal death, prematurity, growth restriction, preeclampsia) and management: preconception risk assessment, low-dose aspirin with low-molecular-weight heparin when indicated, and postpartum care.

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