Investigating why blood clots are more common in pregnant women who are overweight.

An investigation of the pathophysiology underlying the increased risk of venous thrombosis in overweight and obese pregnant women. (Dr Susan McNeill)

Blood clots in veins, while rare, are one of the main causes of death in pregnant women. Overweight pregnant women are at a greater risk of blood clots than pregnant women of a healthy weight, but the reasons why are not understood. High doses of heparin, a drug that prevents blood clots, are given to overweight pregnant women to try to reduce their risk. However, there is limited evidence showing how much to give and how effective it is, and it may cause side effects. Dr Catherine Bagot and her team based at Glasgow Royal Infirmary want to gain a better understanding of the science behind the higher risk of blood clots in overweight women. Dr Bagot will recruit 244 pregnant volunteers to give a blood sample, including volunteers who are normal weight and overweight The team will test the blood for clotting factors and whether their fat cells are releasing pro-clotting chemicals. Using harmless ultrasound techniques, they will also measure the amount of fat cells under the skin and around the organs in the abdomen. The study will help to us to understand why overweight pregnant women have a higher risk of blood clots. The information will enable further studies to decide the best strategies to prevent dangerous blood clots in pregnant women.