Low-molecular-weight heparin and aspirin use in relation to pregnancy outcome in women with systemic lupus erythematosus and antiphospholipid syndrome: A cohort study.

OBJECTIVE To relate anticoagulant use to pregnancy complications in women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and primary antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). METHODS All ongoing pregnancies, 184, in two Dutch tertiary centers between 2000 and 2015. RESULTS LMWH and aspirin was prescribed in 15/109 SLE women without antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL), 5/14 with aPL, 11/13 with APS, 45/48 with primary APS. Main complications in the four treatment groups (no anticoagulant treatment, aspirin, LMWH, aspirin and LMWH) included hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (9.4%, 23.3%, 50%, 18.4%, respectively, p = 0.12) and preterm birth (16.7%, 34.3%, 75%, 36.8%, respectively, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION Maternal and perinatal complications occurred frequently, despite LMWH and aspirin use.