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LMWH prevented recurrent placenta-mediated pregnancy complications
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Low–molecular-weight heparin significantly reduced the risk for recurrent placenta-mediated pregnancy complications such as pre-eclampsia and small for gestational age newborns, according to results of a meta-analysis.
“Placenta-mediated pregnancy complications are common and are serious,” the researchers wrote. “Pre-eclampsia is the most important cause of premature delivery, with a resultant impact on fetal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Effective interventions to reduce the risk for placenta-mediated pregnancy complications are desperately needed.”
Researchers pooled data from six studies that evaluated the effect of prophylactic low–molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) in pregnant women with prior placenta-mediated pregnancy complications.
Most women analyzed had previous pre-eclampsia (70%), and the majority of cases (70%) were severe or early onset pre-eclampsia. A standard prophylactic dose of LMWH was the treatment method across all studies.
LMWH significantly decreased the composite measure for any pre-eclampsia, abruption, small for gestational age newborn or pregnancy loss after 20 weeks (RR=0.52; 95% CI, 0.32-0.86).
A secondary analysis evaluated LMWH’s effect on a composite measure of more severe placenta-mediated pregnancy complications (early onset pre-eclampsia, placental abruption, small for gestational age newborn or a pregnancy loss after 20 weeks). Results showed LMWH was associated with a significant reduction in this composite measure (RR=0.39; P=.0004).
“We consider that further multicenter corroborative trials are required prior to this intervention being adopted as standard of care due to several limitations in the quality of the evidence and uncertainty regarding which patient sub-groups benefit from this costly and inconvenient therapy,” the researchers wrote.
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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