Prothrombin Time and Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time in Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (Nauth), Nnewi, Nigeria – A Cohort Study

Abstract

The hemostatic balance tilts in the direction of hypercoagulability which helps to reduce bleeding complications during delivery. [1] The changes in the coagulation system during normal pregnancy are consistent with a continuing low-grade process of intravascular coagulation. [2] The hormones which are necessary for the maintenance of pregnancy, that is, estrogen and progesterone increase several folds and these, especially estrogen stimulate hepatocytes thereby increasing the production of virtually all coagulation factors. Evaluation of levels of certain coagulation factors occur in practically all healthy pregnant women which are most likely the result of small amounts