Lupus Anticoagulant and Pregnancy
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Lupus Anticoagulant and Pregnancy
April 2004
I have tested positivie for Lupus Anticoagulant antibodies and
have suffered three miscarriages because of this. I am now
considering treatment that includes baby aspirin and heperin for
my next pregnancy. Has anyone had the same experience? How
were the daily heperin injections? Anything else to share?
PS I have a three year old now - and had no complications with
that pregnancy AT ALL. Is it unusual for Lupus Anticoagulant
Antibodies to ''appear'' later in life like this?
Thank you. Anon.
I do not have the same medical diasnosis as you, but I too was
on heparin (Lovenox) and aspirin during 2 pregnancies due to
blood clotting risks. I also had a completely normal pregnancy
and healthy child prior to my miscarriage, TIAs and diagnosis.
I went on to have 2 other children while using Lovenox and
aspirin with no problems. The Lovenox injection was easy to do
and worth the inconvenience, slight bruising and minor pain.
This medicine was very expensive if I ordered it at any local
pharmacies but practically free if I went through my
insurance's mail order precription service. Bradley Lewis at
Herrick is the expert on clotting and pregnancy, and I also
recommend neurologist Joanna Cooper. good luck!
Linda
First of all, I am sorry to hear about your losses and hope
that you are able to have the second child you wish for.
After an easy first pregnancy and childbirth, I also had
miscarriages (4), and also tested positive on one of the lupus
anticoagulant tests. I did not go on heparin, but at 39, did
take baby aspirin for the first month the next time I got
pregnant. I had a successful pregnancy, and then, another
successful pregnancy, the third one without taking baby
aspirin.
I would recommend you make sure you get a second opinion, and
maybe a retesting, for the lupus anticoagulant and whether it
means you need to use heparin. I found that opinion among the
reproductive endrocrinologists and OB/GYNs I consulted varied
widely as to whether my results on the anticoagulant test
accounted for my miscarriages. Some said it was just chemical
pregnancies due to my age - random chromosomal variation. I
know that when you go on the web you will find many people,
some of them who actually have lupus, who use heparin.
Anon
I went through the EXACT SAME THING when my first daughter was
about 3 1/2. I had had two miscarriages, and after the
treatment you're describing, have gone on to have two more
children through absolutely uncomplicated homebirths. The
doctor I used in the area is Russell Laros, and I can't speak
highly enough about him. He was wonderful managing these
relatively high-risk pregnancies and realizing that I had low-
risk births.
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