The use of warfarin in pregnancy complicated by circulating lupus anticoagulant; a technique for monitoring.

A case is described in which a pregnancy, preceded by two mid-trimester fetal losses, was complicated by deep-vein thrombosis due to the presence of circulating lupus anticoagulant. Warfarin was used as anticoagulant therapy concurrently with high-dose prednisolone. It is suggested that warfarin may have advantages over heparin in managing pregnancies in women with circulating lupus anticoagulant. A technique is described which allowed the monitoring of levels of lupus anticoagulant in the circulation while warfarin is being administered.h3.