MASSIVE DEEP-VEIN THROMBOSIS IN A PATIENT WITH ANTITHROMBIN-III DEFICIENCY UNDERGOING OVARIAN STIMULATION FOR IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION

Objective: To present the first report of a thromboembolic complicatio n in early pregnancy after ovarian hyperstimulation for IVF in a patie nt with AT III deficiency who was treated successfully and subsequentl y delivered a healthy male infant at 32 weeks of gestation. Design: Ca se report. Setting: Hospital-based clinic for reproductive medicine. P atient: A 28-year-old woman who consulted our IVF clinic with a 3.5-ye ar history of primary infertility. Interventions: Intravenous heparin therapy. Results: The patient responded adequately to heparin therapy and was discharged home on SC heparin. A primary cesarean section was performed at 32 weeks of gestation because of poor fetal growth and tr ansverse lie. Conclusions: We stress the importance of obtaining a tho rough personal and family history before initiation of ovarian hyperst imulation. Measuring activity of AT III, protein C, and protein S in p atients with a suspicious history of thromboembolic episodes occurring at an early age may lead to the implementation of appropriate prophyl actic measures, preventing potentially life-threatening complications.