Heavy bleeding after childbirth affects about one in ten women and can be life-threatening. Normally, the wound caused by the shedding of the placenta closes quickly due to the contractions of the uterus. However, normal coagulation is a prerequisite.
In his research, Christian Haslinger, Senior Physician at the Clinic for Obstetrics, in cooperation with Wolfgang Korte, Center for Laboratory Medicine St. Gallen, and Torsten Hothorn, University of Zurich, has discovered that an endogenous enzyme, “clotting factor 13,” is probably much more important for blood clotting after birth than previously assumed.
In a research project, Christian Haslinger and the study team are now investigating whether bleeding can be stopped more quickly with early administration of factor 13. If this approach proves successful, it could set a new standard for the treatment of these dangerous bleeds.
The relevance of the question for a large number of women worldwide has also convinced the Swiss National Science Foundation, which has just approved a grant of CHF 3 million for the project. This will make it possible to conduct a nationwide intervention study in cooperation with seven centers over a period of 5 years.
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