Late-pregnancy complications in obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome

Later in pregnancy, obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome is associated with:

• a high incidence of pre-eclampsia (in about one-third of pregnant patients with antiphospholipid syndrome) and eclampsia
• fetal death or premature birth associated with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR); IUGR occurs in about 25% of pregnant patients with antiphospholipid syndrome.

Refer patients with known obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome to a high-risk obstetric service (where possible) for specialised care when pregnancy is confirmed.