2005;1(10):13-17

pathophysiology The risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) during pregnancy and puerperium is markedly higher than in non-pregnant women of comparable age. In developed countries, where the mortality for other causes has been reduced, VTE is currently one of the most common cause of mater-nal mortality.1,2 The incidence of VTE events is about 1/1000 women-y of pregnancy and more 7 out of 1000 women-y post par-tum; this represents a 2.5-fold increase in the risk of VTE during pregnancy and 20-fold increase during puerperium compared to non-pregnant women of comparabl