Hold your needles in women with recurrent pregnancy losses with or without hereditary thrombophilia: Meta-analysis and review of the literature

Abstract

Objectives: The use of antithrombotic prophylaxis in women with recurrent pregnancy losses (RPL) remains controversial.

Methods: We performed meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) versus No LMWH in women with or without hereditary thrombophilia and RPL. Twelve RCTs met our inclusion criteria and 2298 women were included in this meta-analysis. Our primary end point was live birth and odds ratio (OR) for live birth are reported.

Results: In women with thrombophilia the benefit of LMWH on live birth is not significant but heterogeneity of the studies is significant (OR, 2.09; 95 % CI, 0.58-7.57; p = 0.26; I² = 86 %, p = 0.0001). Considering women without thrombophilia there is no benefit of LMWH in OR of live birth and data from studies have low heterogeneity (OR, 1.25; 95 % CI, 0.88-1.78; p = 0 0.21; I² = 44 %, p = 0.07).

Conclusions: Hold your needles in women with RPL. Probably in some hereditary thrombophilic defects LMWH has a positive effect on OR for live birth.

Keywords: Hereditary thrombophilia; LMWH; RPL.