The impact of close surveillance on pregnancy outcome among women with a prior history of antepartum complications attributed to thrombosis: a cohort study

BACKGROUND: There is limited evidence, so far, as to the optimal management of women with a prior obstetric history of antepartum complications attributed to thrombosis. We aimed to investigate the contribution of close antepartum surveillance on pregnancy outcome among women with prior antepartum complications attributed to thrombosis. METHODS: The study was conducted on all women who were delivered, conceived and delivered again between January 2000 and January 2006 at a university teaching hospital. Women included were managed in previous pregnancy at a low risk setting and had unpredicted antepartum complications occurring at a gestational age of 23 weeks or more. Antepartum complications considered were intrauterine fetal death, neonates who were small for gestational age, severe pre-eclampsia and placental abruption. All women were tested for the presence of thrombophilia after delivery. In the following pregnancy, only women found to have any thrombophilia (thrombophilic group) were treated with enoxaparin. Both the thrombophilic group and the non-thrombophilic group (tested negatively for thrombophilia) were managed and observed closely at our high-risk pregnancy clinic. RESULTS: Ninety-seven women, who conceived at least once after the diagnosis of the relevant antepartum complications, were included in this study. Forty-nine had any thrombophilia and 48 tested negatively. Composite antepartum complications (all antepartum complications considered) were reduced significantly after close antepartum surveillance in both groups. Mean birth weight and mean gestational age improved significantly and were comparable between the groups. CONCLUSION: Close antepartum surveillance may contribute to improvement in the perinatal outcomes of women with prior antepartum complications attributed to thrombosis.