Increased Clotting Factors in Pregnancy

Abstract

MORE than seventy years ago Virchow¹ postulated three etiologic factors in thrombotic disease: blood hypercoagulability, blood stasis and vascular injury. There is now no question that the last two of the triad are extremely important, but there is still considerable controversy regarding increased blood clottability as a significant pathogenetic factor. A positive answer would raise hope for a specific test for diagnosis and management of the thrombotic state. Recent notable advances in the knowledge of coagulation prompted us to re-examine this question.The pregnant state was selected as the initial area of study because it constitutes a common, temporary, reversible . . .