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Consumption Coagulopathy Associated With Intrauterine Fetal Death: The Role of Heparin Therapy
Author(s) -
Strauss John H.,
Ballard James O.,
Chamlian Dikran
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
international journal of gynecology and obstetrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.895
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1879-3479
pISSN - 0020-7292
DOI - 10.1002/j.1879-3479.1978.tb00431.x
Subject(s) - medicine , coagulopathy , heparin , hypofibrinogenemia , fibrinogen , fetal death , afibrinogenemia , obstetrics , fetus , pregnancy , surgery , anesthesia , biology , genetics
A gravida with intrauterine fetal death who developed progressive chronic consumption coagulopathy was treated with heparin. When serial fibrinogen levels fell below 100 mg% and the prothrombin time was significantly prolonged, intravenously injected heparin corrected hypofibrinogenemia. A safe delivery followed administration of oxytocin. The authors emphasize the infrequent need for heparin therapy in the majority of cases of the intrauterine fetal death syndrome. Therapeutic guidelines for its use in selected cases are reviewed.