SEVERE PREECLAMPSIA ASSOCIATED WITH COINHERITANCE OF FACTOR-V-LEIDEN MUTATION AND PROTEIN-S DEFICIENCY

Background: Inherited thrombophilic disorders are associated with an i ncreased risk of venous thromboembolism during pregnancy. Preliminary research suggests that these disorders might also increase the risk fo r preeclampsia. Case: A 29-year-old primigravida developed severe, ear ly onset preeclampsia and postpartum deep venous thrombosis. Subsequen t testing revealed coinheritance of the factor V Leiden mutation and p rotein S deficiency. Heparin prophylaxis was administered during two s ubsequent pregnancies without recurrence of either preeclampsia or ven ous thromboembolism. Conclusion: Our patient's inherited thrombophilia may have played a role in the development of preeclampsia, and antico agulation during subsequent pregnancies may have prevented preeclampsi a recurrence. An association between inherited thrombophilic disorders and preeclampsia is biologically plausible. (C) 1998 by The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.