Lupus Anticoagulant and Pregnancy

April 2004

I have tested positivie for Lupus Anticoagulant antibodies and have suffered three miscarriages because of this. I am now considering treatment that includes baby aspirin and heperin for my next pregnancy. Has anyone had the same experience? How were the daily heperin injections? Anything else to share? PS I have a three year old now - and had no complications with that pregnancy AT ALL. Is it unusual for Lupus Anticoagulant Antibodies to ''appear'' later in life like this? Thank you. Anon.

I do not have the same medical diasnosis as you, but I too was on heparin (Lovenox) and aspirin during 2 pregnancies due to blood clotting risks. I also had a completely normal pregnancy and healthy child prior to my miscarriage, TIAs and diagnosis. I went on to have 2 other children while using Lovenox and aspirin with no problems. The Lovenox injection was easy to do and worth the inconvenience, slight bruising and minor pain. This medicine was very expensive if I ordered it at any local pharmacies but practically free if I went through my insurance's mail order precription service. Bradley Lewis at Herrick is the expert on clotting and pregnancy, and I also recommend neurologist Joanna Cooper. good luck! Linda

First of all, I am sorry to hear about your losses and hope that you are able to have the second child you wish for. After an easy first pregnancy and childbirth, I also had miscarriages (4), and also tested positive on one of the lupus anticoagulant tests. I did not go on heparin, but at 39, did take baby aspirin for the first month the next time I got pregnant. I had a successful pregnancy, and then, another successful pregnancy, the third one without taking baby aspirin.

I would recommend you make sure you get a second opinion, and maybe a retesting, for the lupus anticoagulant and whether it means you need to use heparin. I found that opinion among the reproductive endrocrinologists and OB/GYNs I consulted varied widely as to whether my results on the anticoagulant test accounted for my miscarriages. Some said it was just chemical pregnancies due to my age - random chromosomal variation. I know that when you go on the web you will find many people, some of them who actually have lupus, who use heparin. Anon

I went through the EXACT SAME THING when my first daughter was about 3 1/2. I had had two miscarriages, and after the treatment you're describing, have gone on to have two more children through absolutely uncomplicated homebirths. The doctor I used in the area is Russell Laros, and I can't speak highly enough about him. He was wonderful managing these relatively high-risk pregnancies and realizing that I had low- risk births.