[Thrombophilia and pregnancy: which tests for which patients? The clinician's point of view].

Venous thromboembolism is the leading cause of death in the ante-partum and post-partum period. The role of genetic thrombophilia in venous thrombosis has been analyzed in several studies, but the role of genetic thrombophilia in fetal loss, intra-uterine growth restriction and pre-eclampsia is much more controversial. While we can give some recommendations on thromboprophylaxis of venous thromboembolism, data concerning the usefulness of antithrombotic treatment in obstetric complications of genetic thrombophilia are lacking. When a laboratory work-up of thrombophilia is required, all the known causes of thrombophilia must be checked as none of them is specific of a single clinical feature, but also because they can be associated in the same patient.