Amniotic fluid embolism: prophylaxis with heparin and aspirin.

The thromboplastic activity of amniotic fluid (AF) from women in labor may be a significant factor in amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) and obstetric disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Infusion of AF from women in labor into laboratory animals was found to depress the platelet count, as seen in DIC. In this study we also investigated the ability of heparin and aspirin to block the thromboplastic activity and thrombocytopenia subsequent to AF infusion. In animals, heparin prophylaxis before infusion of AF prevented thrombocytopenia, whereas aspirin prophylaxis did not. Heparin prophylaxis may be useful in the management of coagulation defects associated with AFE and labor.