anticardiolipin antibodies- heparin therapy- anyone?

Hi All!

Only me!
I know I haven't been around for a while- I tend to use the maternity forum a little more these days but I do check back every now & then to see how everyone is doing :)

Congrats on all those BFP's btw :)

I have just posted this on the maternity forum and thought I would post the same message here too.

Sending the stickiest of babydust to all,

Big Hugs,

Ruth xx

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Hi there,
I have 4 children and I'm currently 13 weeks pregnant with baby no 5 (I've had 2 early m/c's 3 babies apart)

3 years ago when I was p/g with my last DD they picked up (at approx 17 weeks) I had borderline elevated anticardiolipin antibodies (I think the figure was 17 - (?)
I've since had a miscarriage though it was I think a blighted ovum and not connected to this.
I went for my dating ultrasound yesterday and after they took some routine bloods I saw the consultant who said I had to come back next Tuesday for my meds to be revised as I currently take one 75mg (baby) aspirin a day and I may need to have heparin therapy. I only took the aspirin through pregnancy with my DD and I don't remember them ever mentioning heparin at all.

I just wondered if anyone here was on heparin for a similar condition and if they do change it what should I expect/ what does it involve and any side effects etc...

Thanks in advance,

Ruth xx

[babysomeday]

Hi! I don't know the answer, but I am anxious to hear what others say b/c I have the same level, a 17 the first time and a 16 the second time they drew it. I am on the low dose asprin, but I think it is 81 mg's. Did they tell you anything about the heprin when you were there?

[RuthiePee]

I'm in the UK so maybe that's why the aspirin dosage differs.
They didn't say anything about the heparin in detail at all yesterday, just that they will review it with the haemotologist. I guess if I do need it the haemotologist will tell me everything next week. I have looked it up on the internet but most of the links were medical studies (and I don't like reading them due to the worst case scenario's included :)) so I thought here would be the best place to ask. :)

Ruth xx

[babysomeday]

My RE emailed me this about my test:

Your IgM Anti-Cardiolipin Ab has come back low positive again. The general consensus is that only values >20 should be treated. I have attached an article for your review.

I have this article if you are interseted, it is an PDF file. you can email me and I will email it to you if you want. my email is ***@****

It has a lot of info on the antibody. :)

[Gerberia]

does this prevent the baby from implanting I've gotten preg twice and both miscarriages were very early on.  I'm going to get RPL testing next cycle so I guess I'll find out next month...what is going on.

[Srfoshee]

Hello

I have eleveated IgM and IgA. I have been told I will need Heparin therapy.  I do not know much more. All I know is that these clotting factors put you at an increased risk to send blood clots to baby which would kill it, and the Heparin is a injectible blood thinner injected into the tummy to fix the problem. Once I get preggo, I will  be on this regimin too

[RuthiePee]

have just emailed :) thanks

Ruth xx

[RuthiePee]

Thanks for the info Lori - I haven't gotten around to reading all of it but it looks just the job! I feel I can go next week with some questions at least :)

Thanks for your replies, I'm not sure which of my tests was elevated they just told me anticardiolipin antibodies... (?) I'm in the UK so maybe that's why they don't seem to give the same information out. (Something I really need to ask!)

Sorry to hear about your losses, I'm not sure whether it can affect implantation, I've never had that problem all I know is the condition affects blood clotting and as clots can form on the placenta they like to keep the blood thinner hence the aspirin and other blood thinning meds.
I hope they find out the cause for you and you go on to have a healthy nine months :)

Hugs,

Ruth xx