Early pregnancy losses are common amongst healthy women. Current guidelines do not support the routine screening of women with pregnancy loss for inherited thrombophilias. Moreover, there are recommendations against instituting thromboprophylaxis in women with inherited thrombophilias wishing to achieve a successful term pregnancy. By performing testing for inherited thrombophilias, patients may be unnecessarily exposed to the harms of thromboprophylaxis, inappropriately labeled with a disease-state, and may unnecessarily modify future plans for travel, pregnancy or surgery based on detection of an “asymptomatic” thrombophilia. Further, patients with negative testing may receive false reassurance.
Sources:
Bates SM, et al. VTE, thrombophilia, antithrombotic therapy, and pregnancy: Antithrombotic Therapy and Prevention of Thrombosis, 9th ed: American College of Chest Physicians Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines. Chest. Feb 2012;141(2 Suppl):e691S-736S. PMID: 22315276.
Chan WS, et al. Venous thromboembolism and antithrombotic therapy in pregnancy. J. Obstet. Gynaecol. Can. Jun 2014;36(6):527-553. PMID: 24927193.