BONE-MINERAL DENSITY DURING LONG-TERM PROPHYLAXIS WITH HEPARIN IN PREGNANCY

OBJECTIVE: We studied the effect of long-term heparin treatment on bon e mass during pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: Thromboprophylaxis with heparin was given to 39 women during pregnancy for a mean of 28 weeks and for an average of 6 weeks post partum. Bone mineral density measured with single-photon absorptiometry of the distal and ultradistal parts of t he forearm was determined at the time of the start of heparin treatmen t (mean, twelfth week of gestation), immediately post partum, and on a verage 7 weeks post partum. The mean dosage of heparin was 17,300 IU/d ay. A control group of 34 normal pregnant women was studied for compar ison. RESULTS: In women treated with heparin, there was almost a 5% re duction in trabecular bone during pregnancy (p < 0.01) and an insignif icant recovery post partum. There were no significant changes in bone mass during pregnancy or in the puerperium in the control group.