Association between inherited thrombophilias, antiphospholipid antibodies, and lipoprotein A levels and venous thromboembolism in pregnancy.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the association between venous thromboembolism (VTE) in pregnancy with thrombophilic factors. Thirty pregnant women with VTE were compared with 30 pregnant women matched by age and race without VTE and evaluated for risk factors and thrombophilia. Statistical analysis used two-tailed Fisher's exact test. VTE distribution was 30% in first trimester, 9% in 2nd trimester, 26% in 3rd trimester and 35% postpartum. Seventeen (57%) of VTE cases versus 2 (7%) of control cases had specific thrombophilia diagnosis ( p <0.001). The results were: Factor V Leiden mutation (27 vs. 3%) p = 0.026, MTHFR homozygous 677 mutation (10 vs. 44%) p = 0.017, prothrombin gene mutation (11 vs. 0%), protein C deficiency (7 vs. 0%), antiphospholipid antibodies (27 vs. 3%) p = 0.026, mean lipoprotein levels 49 versus 23 mg/dL, p = 0.008, mean homocysteine levels 7.8 versus 7.1 umol/L. An association is suggested between thromboembolic events in pregnancy and thrombophilia, especially Factor V Leiden gene mutation and elevated antiphospholipid antibodies. A new finding is the association of elevated lipoprotein A levels with thromboembolic events in pregnancy.