Complications of pregnancy, such as preeclampsia, placental abruption, feta
l growth retardation, stillbirth and fetal death are associated with an inc
reased frequency of pro-thrombotic abnormalities. We describe a case of sev
ere preeclampsia and multiple placental infarctions in a 28-year-old woman
at 31 weeks' gestation. Despite a negative personal history for venous thro
mboembolism, coagulation screening for thrombophilia detected an isolated a
ntithrombin III deficiency. In view of the high prevalence of pro-thromboti
c complications, laboratory screening for thrombophilia would be advantageo
us in women with complicated pregnancies, to ensure adequate management in
high-risk situations, as suggested by larger-scale clinical investigations.