Heparin Treatment of Amniotic Fluid Embolism

Abstract

From the view-point that amniotic fluid embolism is associated with disseminated intravascular coagulation, platelet thrombi or both, heparin therapy was attempted on a patient with suspected amniotic fluid embolism. The treatment was effective.
The tests for coagulation-fibrinolysis system revealed a sudden and transient prolongation of thrombin clotting time and prothrombin time, and decrease in fibrinogen and platelets during shock. These laboratory findings assured that acute disseminated intravascular coagulation was complicated in this patient. The significance of erythrocyte sedimentation rate in establishing the diagnosis of obstetric hypofibrinogenemia was emphasized.