Thrombophilia and fetal loss: Lessons from gene targeting in mice

Inherited thrombophilia is recognized as one of the causes of recurrent fetal loss. Yet, the risk of fetal loss in women with thrombophilia is far from absolute. Other risk modifiers are clearly involved, but remain to be identified. The mechanism that translates maternal thrombophilia into pregnancy disorder is also not understood. Genetically engineered mice have led to the development of new insights into the etiology and pathogenesis of thrombophilia-associated fetal loss. These insights are the focus of this review.