Hypercoagulable states and pregnancy.

Pulmonary thromboembolism is a major cause of maternal death in the developed world. Underlying this condition is the problem of deep venous thrombosis. These problems often reflect an underlying hypercoagulable state. Growing evidence implicates congenital and acquired thrombophilias in the pathophysiologic processes underlying not only venous thrombosis, but also miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and preeclampsia, raising new possibilities for intervention.