Heparin for patients with growth restricted fetus: a prospective randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE

Heparin was hypothesized to facilitate the growth of the growth-restricted fetus. Our study was to assess the efficiency of heparin in treating fetus with growth restriction and to explore the possible mechanisms.

METHODS

Seventy-three pregnant women were selected in this study. Based on regular treatments, patients randomly received either heparin or dan-shen combined with low-molecular weight dextrose. A serial ultrasonography and hematological measurements were performed on each patient at the enrolment and 7 days after the first treatment. Neonatal birth weight, 1-min Apgar score and gestational age were recorded. Placentas were collected for apoptotic indices.

RESULTS

Heparin significantly improved maternal hemorrheological indices, fetal growth velocities and neonatal outcomes. It also reduced apoptosis in trophoblasts.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results provide evidence that heparin significantly improves the growth of the growth-restricted fetus. The growth improvement is probably achieved by the changes in maternal hemorrheology and the attenuated apoptosis in trophoblasts.