Disseminated intravascular coagulation in pregnancy. The role of heparin therapy.

Treatment of the underlying cause and supportive care constitute the basic principles of management of disseminated intravascular coagulation. The role of anticoagulation with heparin is controversial in the absence of any controlled studies. This case report describes two patients with acute obstetric disseminated intravascular coagulation in whom the use of heparin resulted in marked clinical improvement. Treatment with heparin may be of help in situations where there is a delay in elimination of the underlying cause.