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Antithrombin deficiency is identified as one of the most potent risk factors for venous thromboembolism during pregnancy. Therapeutic low molecular weight heparin is recommended, but it can be difficult to attain sufficient anticoagulation since low molecular weight heparin requires antithrombin to exert its anticoagulant effect. We carried out a multicentre case-series assessing the dose of low molecular weight heparin required to achieve therapeutic anti-activated factor X levels in pregnant women with antithrombin deficiency. We assessed 27 pregnancies in 18 women with severe antithrombin deficiency, which we defined as an antithrombin level of <0.55 IU/ml (with or without prior venous thromboembolism) or an antithrombin level < 0.8 IU/ml and a personal history of venous thromboembolism. Our data illustrate the need for high doses of low molecular weight heparin to achieve therapeutic anti-activated factor X levels (average 20,220 IU/day). All pregnancies ended in live birth (excluding one elective termination), although intrauterine growth restriction occurred in five (18%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Awareness of the risk factors for venous thromboembolic (VTE) disease and timely administration of thromboprophylaxis can prevent many VTE events. This article examines these risk factors and the recommended strategies to prevent VTE, as well as discussing the diagnosis and treatment of an event that has already occurred. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recurrent pregnancy loss ( RPL) affects 1% pregnancies and is multi-factorial in origin. The role of the acquired thrombophilia antiphospholipid syndrome ( APS) as a common and potentially treatable cause of RPL is well established but this is less so for inherited thrombophilia. In obstetric APS the combination of aspirin and heparin has improved outcomes. By analogy, the use of low molecular weight heparin ( LMWH) has become commonplace in women with inherited thrombophilia and also those with unexplained miscarriage to help safeguard the pregnancy. This review will examine the pathophysiological role of thrombophilia in pregnancy loss, and the evidence for anticoagulant-based intervention. The limited data supporting the use of heparin for women with RPL and inherited thrombophilia suggests adoption of a more cautious and judicious approach in this setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a study conducted to find the correlation between the oral anticoagulant rivaroxaban concentration and the blood coagulation tests prothrombin time and partial thromboplastin time. It mentions that researchers collected blood samples from 31 patients who received rivaroxaban treatment for at least two weeks. The study reveals that a rivaroxaban-calibrated anti-Xa assay is the reliable method of ascertaining a low level of rivaroxaban anticoagulant activity.