Aspirin and heparin in pregnancy

Introduction: A pro-coagulant state during pregnancy can be involved in the occurrence of gestational vascular complications (GVCs) and venous thromboembolism (VTE).

Areas covered: Antithrombotic drugs are used to prevent GVCs and VTE. Aspirin is not efficacious to prevent recurrences in women with previous early loss, while it can prevent pre-eclampsia in some groups of women. Heparins are not effective in the prevention of early recurrent loss and there is uncertainty about their efficacy in women carrying inherited thrombophilias. They could be efficacious in the prevention of GVCs in carriers of inherited thrombophilias, as GVCs have heterogeneous causes, and future studies have to focus on more homogeneous groups of patients. Not enough data are available regarding prophylaxis with heparins to prevent pregnancy-related VTE, but an accurate risk stratification of women during pregnancy and puerperium is crucial for administering prophylaxis in moderate-/high-risk women. Aspirin does not improve live births after assisted reproductive technologies, while heparins increase the number of clinical pregnancies and live births.

Expert opinion: Aspirin is efficacious in the prevention of GVCs in women at risk for pre-eclampsia and in those with antiphospholipid antibodies syndrome. Heparins could give benefit to women at risk for GVCs and/or pregnancy-related VTE.