Evaluation of early pregnancy risk factors for venous thromboembolism in Turkish pregnant women: a prospective study

Objective: Venous thromboembolism (VTE), a condition during pregnancy that manifests as deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, is the third most common cause of death in 0.01–0.2% pregnant women worldwide each year. Because this risk has increased in pregnant women and is treatable, early diagnosis and treatment would save lives. The aim of this study was to evaluate the early pregnancy risk factors for VTE in Turkish pregnant women. Methods:In this prospective study, 480 pregnant women between the ages of 18 and 45 years and who applied to our clinic within their first trimester (4–14 weeks) of pregnancy were enrolled in the study. Because the risk factors of the patients were to be determined, there were no exclusion criteria. The antepartum thromboembolism risk parameters were determined according to Risky Pregnancies Management Guide of Turkish Ministry of Health Guidelines. Results: There were 336 (70%) pregnant women in the low-risk group, 62 (12.9%) in the medium-risk group, and 82 (17.1%) in the high-risk group. The permanent parameters within the groups that determined the risk factors were individually evaluated. Conclusion: Our results indicated that 30% of the study population needed low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) prophylaxis, of whom 12.9% were in the medium-risk group, and 17.1% were in the high-risk group. VTE risk occurs from a combination of minor factors, rather than one high-risk factor. In addition, most of these VTE risk factors can be easily corrected and prevented in the pre-gestational phase or first trimester.