EVALUATION OF THE PRETHROMBOTIC STATE IN PREGNANCY AND IN WOMEN USINGORAL-CONTRACEPTIVES

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of pregnancy an d oral contraceptive use on in vivo coagulation by measurement of plas ma levels of prothrombin fragment 1+2 and thrombin antithrombin III co mplex. Fifty-four women with uncomplicated singleton gestations, 34 wo men using oral contraceptives and 45 nonpregnant controls were the sub jects of this study. Levels of prothrombin fragment 1+2 and thrombin-a ntithrombin III complex were measured using enzyme linked immunoassays . In uncomplicated pregnancies, levels of prothrombin fragment 1+2 and thrombin antithrombin III complex increased significantly with advanc ing gestational age. Women using oral contraceptives had significantly higher levels of prothrombin fragment 1+2 and thrombin antithrombin I II complex compared to non-pregnant controls. The significant increase in levels of prothrombin fragment 1+2 and thrombin-antithrombin III c omplex throughout gestation and in women using oral contraceptives pro vided evidence of thrombin activation during these clinical conditions .