Radiographic Analysis Links Heparin in Pregnancy to Reduced Maternal

A University of Tokyo study published in Reproductive Sciences suggests that unfractionated heparin may reduce bone mineral density in pregnancy. Researchers used an AI system to read routine preoperative chest X-rays and compared estimated bone outcomes in expectant mothers exposed to the drug versus those who underwent cesarean section without it. The analysis found significantly lower estimated bone mineral density at both the lumbar spine and femoral neck for those exposed to heparin. The result matters because dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, the gold-standard method for measuring bone density, is typically avoided during pregnancy due to fetal radiation concerns. The paper frames heparin as important for women who need anticoagulation, including those with antiphospholipid syndrome and certain thrombophilias, but notes the skeletal risks are less measurable during pregnancy.