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Review
. 2024 Aug 25;16(8):e67758.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.67758. eCollection 2024 Aug.

Advances in Thromboprophylaxis for High-Risk Pregnancies: A Comprehensive Review of Current Strategies and Emerging Approaches

Affiliations
Review

Advances in Thromboprophylaxis for High-Risk Pregnancies: A Comprehensive Review of Current Strategies and Emerging Approaches

Swati M Dahiphale et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Thrombosis during pregnancy poses a significant clinical challenge due to its potential for severe maternal and fetal complications. The incidence of thromboembolic events in pregnant women is heightened by pregnancy-associated hypercoagulability, venous stasis, and endothelial changes, all of which contribute to an elevated risk. Effective thromboprophylaxis is essential to mitigate these risks and improve outcomes for both mother and child. This review provides a comprehensive evaluation of current thromboprophylaxis strategies, including pharmacologic interventions such as low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWHs) and unfractionated heparin (UFH) and nonpharmacologic measures like compression stockings and lifestyle modifications. Additionally, the review explores emerging approaches, including personalized medicine strategies, novel anticoagulants, and technology-enabled monitoring solutions. By integrating current evidence with emerging trends, this review aims to offer insights into optimizing thromboprophylaxis in high-risk pregnancies, ultimately contributing to improved clinical outcomes and guiding future research directions in this critical area of maternal healthcare.

Keywords: deep vein thrombosis (dvt); emerging therapies; low-molecular-weight heparins (lmwh); pregnancy; pulmonary embolism (pe); thromboprophylaxis.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Risk factors for thrombosis
Image credit: Dr. Swati Dahiphale

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