Objective: The article discusses the effect of warfarin on pregnant women and their fetus, and the methods of anticoagulation therapy during pregnancy.
Methods: The pregnancy, delivery, and anticoagulation therapy of 12 pregnant women with mechanical heart valve replacement were followed-up.
Results: All the patients received oral anticoagulant therapy during pregnancy. The mean dose of imported warfarin was (2.71 +/- 1.24) mg/d (4 cases); domestic warfarin, (3.14 +/- 0.28) mg/d (6 cases); domestic acenocumarol tablet (3.14 +/- 1.08) mg/d (2 cases). No thromboembolism and major hemorrhage occurred. A total of 8 person/times had minor bleeding. Ten patients had term delivery, 2 had premature birth, No abnormal fetus was observed. Only 1 newborn had low birth weight (2,100 g).
Conclusion: The anticoagulation therapy with low dosage of warfarin (< 5 mg/d) is safe and convenient for the mothers during pregnancy following mechanical heart valve replacement and has low fetus abnormal rate.