Relevance of plasma fibrinogen estimation in obstetric complications.

• Main Authors: Parasnis H, Raje B, Hinduja I
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 1992-10-01
• Series: Journal of Postgraduate Medicine
• Subjects: Abruptio Placentae; complications; epidemiology; Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation; blood; Female; Fetal Death; Fibrinogen; analysis; Human; Hypertension; Incidence; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Cardiovascular; Hematologic; Pregnancy Outcome; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors
• Online Access: http://www.jpgmonline.com/article.asp?issn=0022-3859;year=1992;volume=38;issue=4;spage=183;epage=5;aulast=Parasnis
• ISSN: 0022-3859; 0972-2823

We present a study of fibrinogen levels in 133 patients who were prone to develop disseminated intravascular coagulation as a result of an underlying complication of pregnancy such as abruptio placentae, pregnancy-induced hypertension, missed abortion, septic abortion, intrauterine fetal death, vesicular mole and amniotic fluid embolism. A high incidence of hypofibrinogenemia was found in cases of abruptio placentae (43.9%) and pregnancy-induced hypertension (25%). Hypofibrinogenemia occurred in 10% cases of intrauterine fetal death within 4 weeks of fetal demise. The use of this simple investigation makes possible the diagnosis of hemostatic failure and also helps to guide replacement therapy during the fibrinopenic state. There were 4 maternal deaths and 12 perinatal losses in this study.