Maternal and paternal thrombophilia: risk factors for perinatal mortality

investigated. Results The frequency of antithrombin deficiency (12% vs 0%), increased activated protein C (APC) resistance (32% vs 6%), total protein S deficiency (11% vs 1%) and elevated factor VIII:C activity (43% vs 17%) was significantly higher in female cases compared with controls. In male cases, the frequency of increased APC resistance was significantly higher compared with controls (22% vs 0%). In 30 of the 54 couples with a history of perinatal mortality, more than one thrombophilic abnormality was found (55%) compared with 10 of the 62 control couples (17%). Conclusion The risk of having thrombophilia is doubled in men who have fathered pregnancies which ended in perinatal death as well as in the mothers of such pregnancies.