Acquired Afibrinogenemia in Pregnancy

Abstract

ONE of the most catastrophic events in obstetric practice is the occurrence of a fulminating hemorrhagic diathesis usually associated with toxemia of pregnancy and toxic separation of the placenta. Although uncommon, this usually fatal disorder has been encountered by most obstetricians of long experience.^{1 2 3} For many years it has been suspected that there was a common etiologic background for this hemorrhagic disorder and toxemia of pregnancy, and it has been postulated that the uterus and its contents were the source of a toxic factor.^{3 4 5 6} In spite of the various theories advanced no toxic substance has actually been identified in the . . .