THROMBOELASTOGRAPHIC CHANGES IN HEALTHY PARTURIENTS AND POSTPARTUM WOMEN

Thromboelastography (TEG) using disposable plastic cups and pins was p erformed with native whole blood (native group) in 17 nonpregnant volu nteers, 134 healthy term pregnant women (> 36 wk gestation), and 69 po stpartum women. Thromboelastography was also performed with celite-act ivated whole blood (celite group) in 15 nonpregnant female volunteers, 38 healthy term pregnant women, and 34 postpartum women. The thromboe lastographic parameters r and K were significantly decreased in pregna nt and postpartum women compared with nonpregnant women in both groups (P < 0.05). The maximum amplitude MA, elastic shear modulus, and alph a angles were significantly increased in pregnant and postpartum women compared with nonpregnant women in both groups (P < 0.05). The TEG co agulation index was significantly greater in pregnant and postpartum w omen compared with nonpregnant women in both groups. In this study, TE G showed that pregnancy is a hypercoagulable state and that postpartum women remain hypercoagulable through the first 24 h postdelivery. The use of celite in TEG accelerated the speed of TEG analysis.