Thromboembolic Diseases in Families of Women With Placental Abruption

Abstract

Background We explored the incidence of thromboembolic disease in relatives of women diagnosed with placental abruption, a condition that may be related to disordered coagulation. Methods Using data from a multicenter, case-control study of placental abruption, we assessed thromboembolic diseases in first-degree male and female relatives of women with and without abruption. The analysis was restricted to biologic parents and full siblings, below 65 years of age, and corrected for familial clustering. Results The prevalence of thromboembolic disease was 7.5% in 852 relatives of 212 placental abruption cases and 4.8% in 792 relatives of 206 controls. This increased risk was driven by an association among sisters of abruption probands (odds ratio = 6.8 [95% confidence interval = 1.8–26.0]), and to a lesser extent, among mothers (2.0 [1.0–4.2]). The risk of thromboembolic diseases was similar among the male relatives of placental abruption cases and controls. Conclusions These data suggest that thromboembolic diseases aggregate within female relatives of women with placental abruption.

Exposures to Air Pollution and Risk of Acute-onset Placental Abruption

“…Exposures to fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ; particles with aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 μm), some of its constituents (nickel, zinc, iron, and black carbon), and other gaseous pollutants, including nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ), and ozone (O 3 ), have been linked with preeclampsia, 13-15 small for gestational age (SGA) birth, gestational diabetes, and preterm delivery. 16-18 Since exposure to air pollutants are linked with increased inflammation, oxidative stress, and hemostasis – etiologies implicated with abruption 19,20 — it is plausible that air pollution may be associated with increased risk of abruption. However, the extent to which these air pollutants are associated with abruption that has an acute underpinning remain poorly characterized.…”

Novel insights into molecular mechanisms of abruption-induced preterm birth

“…A complex genetic predisposition to PTB is generally accepted (Refs 99, 100); however, recent epidemiological studies suggest that genetic risk factors also have an important role in the pathogenesis of abruption (Refs 101, 102, 103). Previous studies show that the recurrence risk of placental abruption in the same woman is higher compared with levels in the general population and that thromboembolic diseases aggregate within female relatives of women with placental abruption (Ref.…”