IVIG plus heparin/aspirin may avert repeat fetal loss. (Antiphospholipid Syndrome).

NEW ORLEANS -- Intravenous immunoglobulin therapy may augment heparin and aspirin therapy for patients with antiphospholipid syndrome and recurrent fetal loss, Dr. Mary Stephenson said at the Third International Conference on Sex Hormones, Pregnancy and the Rheumatic Diseases.

Aspirin and heparin treatment can result in a successful pregnancy in 70%-80% of women with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). Adding intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) may allow for successful pregnancy in some of the remaining 20%-30%.

Many of the women who are unable to sustain pregnancies with heparin and aspirin therapy have autoimmune disorders and connective tissue diseases, said Dr. Stephanie Ensworth, who reported the results of a separate study of several of the patients in Dr. Stephenson's study.

Among 14 consecutive patients enrolled from 1998 to 2001 in a prospective study at the British Columbia Women's Hospital and Health Centre, Vancouver, 12 had 23 unsuccessful prior pregnancies while receiving aspirin and heparin therapy, one patient had a heparin allergy, and one had vertebral compression fractures after a successful pregnancy on aspirin and heparin. The 14 patients received aspirin plus IVIG during pregnancy, but their heparin usage varied: 11 were given unfractionated heparin; 1 took the low-molecular-weight heparin, fraxiparine; and 2 did not use heparin.

Of ...