Clinical risk factors for deep venous thrombosis in pregnancy and the puerperium.

Thromboembolic events are among the leading causes of maternal mortality. Mutations in the genes for clotting factors are known, but anamnestic factors can be found in a proportion of women with deep venous thromboses (DVT) during pregnancy and the puerperium. We here describe the clinical factors and pregnancy outcomes of such a group of 70 women who were all operated on for DVT. Highest risk is conferred by a familial history of clotting disease and by known mutations of the clotting factors. This might be used to target a high risk group for preventive treatment.