Congenital afibrinogenemia and recurrent early abortion: a case report

The role of the fibrinogen molecule in the maintenance of normal pregnancy is not yet well understood; however, several cases have been previously reported in which failure to complete normal pregnancy was associated with either hypofibrinogenemia, dysfibrinogenemia, or deficiency in factor XIII (fibrin-stabilizing factor) which is important for the crosslinking of the fibrin. A case of congenital afibrinogenemia is described. The patient, a 22-yr-old woman, who suffered from a moderate hemorrhagic tendency associated with very low (< 10 mg/dl) plasma fibrinogen levels, had three consecutive spontaneous abortions. In view of the previous cases reported, the question is raised whether patients with low or abnormal fibrinogen should be treated with plasma transfusions in order to maintain a normal pregnancy.