[Thrombotic and hemostatic problems in pregnancy and labor and their significance for the fetus and newborn infant].

The following problems are considered: Thrombosis: Safe diagnosis with phlebographic verification is recommended. Heparin has been an established treatment with the great advantage that it does not enter the fetal blood stream. In selected cases surgery or thrombolytic therapy has to be considered. Owing to the high risk of recurrence, prophylactic treatment with Heparin is required throughout pregnancy. Coumarol derivatives traverse the placental membrane to the foetus and have to be avoided because of a risk for teratogenetic injury and intracranial hemorrhage in the foetus. During the puerperium, warfarin might be given because its concentration in breastmilk is low. However, administration of vitamin K1 is recommended to prematures. Attention should be given to the side-effects of Heparin i.e. thrombocytopenia and osteoporosis. The possibility of antithrombin III deficiency should not be overlooked. In such cases it is also risk of thrombosis in the newborn. Premature separation of placenta: In most cases of abruptio placenta immediate delivery by caesarean section is necessary. In cases with partial separation of placenta and immature foetus, treatment with the fibrinolytic inhibitor tranexamic acid (Cyklokapron) has proved useful to prolong pregnancy with maturation of the foetus. Thrombocytopenia: Severe hemorrhage seldom occurs above a level of 50 x 10(9)/l. Treatment with Prednisolon has proved to be of great value. The risk of the child having thrombocytopenia is about 50%. Intraventricular bleedings: Such bleedings mainly occur in prematures. Preliminary results have shown decreased concentrations of specific plasminogen activator inhibitors.