Hypertension.

This article reviews some of the salient points in the management of hypertension as recommended by the "Sixth Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure." New developments since publication of this 1997 report are also discussed.

Lack of association of severe preeclampsia with maternal and fetal mutant alleles for tumor necrosis factor alpha and lymphotoxin alpha genes and plasma tumor necrosis factor alpha levels.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether the increased frequency of mutant alleles of the gene for tumor necrosis factor alpha and elevated maternal and fetal plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha were associated with severe preeclampsia. STUDY DESIGN: We performed a prospective cross-sectional study involving 112 patients with severe preeclampsia matched for gestational age with 106 normotensive pregnant women. Deoxyribonucleic acid for restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis was extracted from maternal and fetal blood. Two mutations associated with the gene for tumor necrosis factor alpha were assayed by polymerase chain reaction. Polymerase chain reaction products were digested with the restriction enzyme Ncol and then fractionated by gel electrophoresis. Genotypic frequencies were calculated. Maternal and fetal plasma tumor necrosis factor alpha levels were assayed by the dual monoclonal antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. The chi2 test, the Fisher exact test, the Student t test, and the Mann-Whitney test were performed to calculate statistical significance. RESULTS: The differences in the genotypic frequencies of the two loci were not significant in either maternal or fetal samples between control women and women with pregnancies complicated by severe preeclampsia. There was no statistical difference in median maternal plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha between control subjects (0.0 pg/mL) and patients with severe preeclampsia (2.5 pg/mL; P =.36). Unexpectedly, fetal plasma tumor necrosis factor alpha levels were found to be significantly elevated in control women (18.4 pg/mL) relative to women with severe preeclampsia (9.1 pg/mL; P <.0001). CONCLUSION: Neither the genotypic frequencies for tumor necrosis factor alpha mutant alleles nor maternal tumor necrosis factor alpha plasma levels were increased in patients with severe preeclampsia.

Management of acute severe hypertension and encephalopathy.

We still do not have an ideal drug to treat acute severe hypertension in pregnancy. Hydralazine and labetalol are the safest agents, but they are inadequate to control blood pressure in some women. Both hypertensive encephalopathy and eclampsia now appear to be forms of an acute process known as reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome.

Peripartum cardiomyopathy: a longitudinal echocardiographic study.

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to determine echocardiographic trends after initial diagnosis of peripartum cardiomyopathy. STUDY DESIGN: Nine women diagnosed with peripartum cardiomyopathy were prospectively recruited for a longitudinal echocardiographic study. Severe myocardial dysfunction was defined as left ventricular end-diastolic dimension > or = 60 mm + fractional shortening < or = 21%, and mild dysfunction was defined as left ventricular end-diastolic dimension < 60 mm + fractional shortening 22% to 24%. Unpaired t tests were used to compare sample means and Fisher's exact test used to compare discrete variables. RESULTS: All women were seen initially for pulmonary edema. Echocardiography showed decreased systolic function in all women. The mean age at diagnosis was 33.0 +/- 6.9 years. All but one woman had a diagnosis of either chronic hypertension (n = 6) or preeclampsia (n = 2). Four women were first seen ante partum and five post partum (range 1 day to 2 months). Repeat echocardiography was performed in all nine women (median 8 months, range 6 weeks to 5 years). There was no correlation between antepartum or postpartum presentation and cardiovascular status on follow-up (p = 0.3). Values for initial left ventricular end-diastolic dimension, severe versus mild dysfunction (68.3 +/- 7.2 mm vs 55.0 +/- 4.2 mm, p = 0.046), follow-up left ventricular end-diastolic dimension, severe versus mild (68.7 +/- 4.1 mm vs 52.0 +/- 5.7 mm, p = 0.002), and follow-up fractional shortening, severe versus mild (14.6% +/- 5.0% vs 28.5% +/- 9.2%, p = 0.02) are significant. Six of the seven women with severe dysfunction had stable disease in follow-up and one is awaiting heart transplant. One of the two women with mild dysfunction had disease resolution and one had stable disease. CONCLUSION: Patients with severe myocardial dysfunction due to peripartum cardiomyopathy are unlikely to regain normal cardiac function on follow-up.

Septic shock in pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the etiology, management, and maternal and perinatal outcome in patients with septic shock during pregnancy. METHODS: In 18 patients with septic shock during pregnancy, the criteria for the diagnosis were sepsis-induced hypotension unresponsive to adequate fluid resuscitation and requirement for vasopressors. RESULTS: Causes of shock were pyelonephritis (n = 6), chorioamnionitis (n = 3), postpartum endometritis (n = 2), toxic shock (n = 2), and one each of septic abortion, ruptured appendix, ruptured ovarian abscess, necrotizing fasciitis, and bacterial endocarditis. Five women (28%) died. Comparing medians of the initial laboratory data for the 13 survivors with those of the five nonsurvivors revealed significant differences for hematocrit (26 compared with 35%; Z = -2.267, P = .023), aspartate aminotransferase (30 compared with 287 U/L; Z = -2.068, P = .042), total bilirubin (1.6 compared with 5.8 mg/dL; Z = 2.046, P = .045), arterial carbon dioxide pressure (30 compared with 19 mmHg; Z = -2.384, P = .013), and arterial oxygen pressure (62 compared with 104 mmHg; Z = -2.004, P = .048). Comparing medians of the hemodynamic data showed differences in blood pressure (88 compared with 70 mmHg; Z = -2.439, P = .013), stroke volume (74 compared with 52 mL; Z = -2.041, P = .038), and left ventricular stroke work index (42 compared with 12 g.m.m2; Z = -1.929, P = .052). Sixty-four percent of survivors and 80% of nonsurvivors had depressed left ventricular function (Fisher exact test, P > .99). Locating the source of infection was difficult and delayed in eight patients. CONCLUSION: In women with septic shock, progression to death can be dramatically rapid. Because vascular permeability is increased, it may be appropriate to administer vasopressors early during resuscitation. An initial low cardiac output is a poor prognostic sign.

Biventricular assist device as a bridge to cardiac transplantation in the treatment of peripartum cardiomyopathy.

Peripartum cardiomyopathy is an unexpected complication of the puerperium with a high mortality rate. Appropriate therapy requires accurate identification of this disease, which is frequently difficult in a patient who has been previously healthy. Medical therapy using alteration of intravascular volume (to optimize ventricular preload), the addition of inotropic agents (to correct ventricular function), and intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation (to improve afterload reduction) is the first line of therapy. Surgical therapy, involving cardiac transplantation, is the ultimate treatment. This therapeutic modality, however, is limited by a lack of available organs for transplant. The development of devices to be used as a "bridge" is gaining acceptance and use as a pretransplantation procedure. This use may be considered particularly fundamental in otherwise healthy young women with peripartum cardiomyopathy. These patients frequently can have almost complete recovery and rehabilitation. We report the case of a young woman with peripartum cardiomyopathy who had a favorable outcome. We performed medical and surgical therapy, insertion of a temporary "bridge" device, and ultimately cardiac transplantation.

Peripartum cardiomyopathy: an ominous diagnosis.

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to review and characterize the initial presentation, etiology, and prognosis of peripartum cardiomyopathy. STUDY DESIGN: Cases of peripartum cardiomyopathy confirmed by echocardiography were prospectively collected between 1986 and 1994. RESULTS: A total of 28 patients without an antecedent history of heart disease were diagnosed with peripartum cardiomyopathy. Common associated disorders included preeclampsia or chronic hypertension (19), alcohol abuse (2), family history (2), and multiple tocolytic therapy (2). Five deaths occurred (18% mortality), 3 patients received heart transplants (11%), 18 continued with cardiac impairment (64%), and only 2 patients (7%) had regress on of cardiomyopathy. The perinatal mortality rate was 36 per 1000 births. Six patients had seven subsequent pregnancies; 4 patients decompensated earlier in the subsequent pregnancy, 1 patient remained well compensated on medical therapy in spite of poor systolic function and a dilated left ventricle, and 1 patient had two subsequent pregnancies without recurrence of cardiac compromise. CONCLUSION: The unique hemodynamic stresses of pregnancy unmask previously undiagnosed cardiomyopathy in otherwise medically stable individuals. The prognosis for these patients is guarded.

Sacroiliitis associated with pyelonephritis in pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Sacroiliitis is a rare infection and an unusual cause of back pain during pregnancy. Because pregnancy and infections commonly associated with pregnancy are risk factors, this diagnosis should be considered in the gravida with sacroiliac pain. CASE: A 17-year-old woman at 24 weeks' gestation, with a history of illicit drug use, presented to a local emergency room with back and buttock pain. Bacteriuria and pyuria were diagnosed, and cefazolin was initiated. Blood cultures grew Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Despite prolonged antibiotic therapy for possible endocarditis, she had persistent debilitating lower back and buttock pain. Radiographic studies detected sacroiliitis, and broadened antibiotic therapy effected cure. CONCLUSION: When sacroiliitis is suspected, diagnostic imaging with either computed axial tomography, or, preferably, magnetic resonance imaging may be helpful. Antibiotic therapy should be tailored to the specific organism involved and continued for 3-6 weeks.

Sudden chest pain and cardiac emergencies in the obstetric patient.

The differential diagnosis and work-up of a patient with chest pain during pregnancy is presented in this article. This is followed by discussions of cardiac emergencies including hypertensive crisis, pulmonary edema, arrhythmias, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, myocardial infarction, and aortic dissection.

A longitudinal study of cardiac output in normal human pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to investigate the maternal hemodynamic and cardiac structural changes that occur during pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: Eighteen women underwent serial echocardiography beginning at 8 to 11 weeks' gestation, then at monthly intervals throughout pregnancy and at 6 and 12 weeks post partum. Cardiac output was measured by pulsed- and continuous-wave Doppler at the aortic valve. Left ventricular chamber size, wall thickness, and mass were determined by M-mode echocardiography. Ventricular diastolic function was assessed by Doppler recording of mitral inflow. RESULTS: Cardiac output by pulsed Doppler increased from 6.7 +/- 0.6 L/min at 8 to 11 weeks' gestation to 8.7 +/- 1.4 L/min at 36 to 39 weeks' gestation before falling to 5.7 +/- 0.7 L/min 12 weeks post partum. Heart rate increased 29%, and stroke volume increased 18%. Left ventricular mass increased because of an increase in wall thickness. Peak mitral A wave velocity increased in late pregnancy. Cardiac output by pulsed and continuous-wave Doppler was similar. CONCLUSION: Cardiac output continues to increase even in late pregnancy. Left ventricular mass increases because of increased wall thickness. The mitral flow velocity findings suggested decreased ventricular compliance or increased preload.

Pulmonary edema associated with pregnancy: echocardiographic insights and implications for treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of echocardiography in determining the cause of pulmonary edema in pregnancy and the impact this information has on management. METHODS: We studied prospectively 45 pregnant or recently postpartum women admitted to an obstetric intensive care unit with pulmonary edema during a 6-year period. Between 1 and 4 days after the onset of pulmonary edema, two-dimensional and M-mode echocardiography was performed, as was continuous, pulsed, and color Doppler echocardiography. The clinical diagnosis obtained from history, physical examination, chest radiograph, and laboratory data was compared with the echocardiographic diagnosis. RESULTS: Three therapeutically and prognostically distinct groups were identified by echocardiography: 1) those with decreased systolic function (N = 19), 2) those with normal systolic function but increased left ventricular mass and presumed diastolic dysfunction (N = 17), and 3) those with normal hearts (N = 9). During the study period, two patients with systolic dysfunction died and one underwent cardiac transplantation. Patients with systolic dysfunction required short- and long-term treatment with digoxin, diuretics, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. Those with diastolic dysfunction received diuretics and long-term antihypertensive therapy. Women with normal hearts required acute therapy only. In 21 patients (47%), echocardiography demonstrated clinically unsuspected findings, which altered the long-term management in 16. CONCLUSION: Because clinical and roentgenographic findings do not accurately differentiate patients with respect to the presence and type of cardiac dysfunction, and because these subgroups differ with respect to treatment and probably prognosis, we recommend echocardiography to evaluate all pregnant women with pulmonary edema.

Obstetric management of gastroenterologic complications of pregnancy.

Key elements in the management of gastroenterologic complications during pregnancy are knowledge of the natural history of the disease process, understanding the effects of pregnancy on the disease and of the disease on pregnancy, concern about fetal effects of medications, careful antepartum fetal assessment, and appropriate timing of the delivery. Vaginal delivery is preferred in most pregnancies complicated by gastrointestinal disease.

Adult respiratory distress syndrome in pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to determine the causes of adult respiratory distress syndrome in pregnancy, the treatment required, and maternal and perinatal outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: We examined a case series of 16 patients with adult respiratory distress syndrome initially treated in an obstetric intensive care unit. Criteria for the diagnosis were respiratory distress requiring mechanical ventilation and a lung injury score > 2.5. RESULTS: The incidence of adult respiratory distress syndrome in pregnancy was 1 per 2893 deliveries, occurring primarily in the third trimester. The causes were infection (n = 8), preeclampsia/eclampsia (n = 4), hemorrhage (n = 2), thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (n = 1), and smoke inhalation (n = 1). Most patients (69%) were delivered before or soon after admission to our hospital. Multiple organ failure developed in 12 patients (75%). Complications of mechanical ventilation occurred in 81% of cases. Other complications of intensive care unit support were endocarditis, superior vena cava thrombosis, line sepsis, and bacteremia. Maternal mortality was 44%; perinatal mortality was 20%. CONCLUSIONS: Adult respiratory distress syndrome in pregnancy is associated with a maternal mortality similar to that of studies in the nonpregnant patient. The main causes in pregnancy are hemorrhage, infection, and toxemia. All maternal deaths occurred in patients with multiorgan failure.

Placenta previa.

Placenta previa occurs in approximately one in 200 pregnancies. The cause is unknown, but endometrial damage due to prior pregnancy, cesarean section, and other factors predispose to it. Diagnosis is usually made by transabdominal ultrasonography. False-positive diagnoses are common in the second trimester and the term "potential placenta previa" has been proposed to describe this situation. Bleeding with placenta previa is usually associated with uterine contractions, thus the introduction of tocolysis. Placenta accreta is common in the patient with one or more previous cesarean sections and placenta previa in the current pregnancy. Management of placenta previa is expectant and involves avoidance of digital vaginal examination, delay of delivery until 36 weeks' gestation and/or documented fetal lung maturity, transfusion support to maintain maternal hematocrit greater than or equal to 30%, serial ultrasonography, antepartum fetal heart rate monitoring, glucocorticoids, tocolytic therapy, and elective delivery by cesarean section. Maternal mortality is rare with placenta previa. Perinatal mortality is currently 4% to 8% primarily related to complications of prematurity.

Hemodynamics of preeclampsia.

A review of the English literature reveals considerable disagreement regarding the cardiovascular hemodynamics of preeclampsia as measured by both noninvasive and invasive techniques. In the untreated patient, most of the data suggest the presence of low CO, low PCWP, and elevated SVR as compared to normotensive pregnancy. In contrast, in patients receiving treatment prior to the measurements, the majority of the data indicate the presence of normal to elevated CO, PCWP, and SVR. There is general agreement that plasma colloid oncotic pressure is markedly reduced in patients with severe disease, and this reduction is more dramatic in the postpartum period especially in those receiving excessive crystalloid therapy. As a result, these patients are at increased risk for pulmonary edema. Several studies recommended using plasma and plasma substitutes to correct the reduced plasma volume and PCWP prior to the use of vasodilator therapy in such pregnancies. This management requires the use of invasive hemodynamic monitoring, and its benefit is transient and not well established. Finally, the true cardiovascular hemodynamics of preeclampsia remain unknown.

Acute fatty liver of pregnancy.

AFLP is a syndrome that occurs in the last trimester or postpartum, characterized by jaundice, coagulopathy, and central nervous system disturbances. Renal insufficiency is common. Clinical and laboratory findings are nonspecific. Diagnosis is based primarily on histologic examination of the liver. The cause of AFLP is unknown. The illness has been associated with a high maternal and fetal mortality; with increased awareness and more liberal use of liver biopsy, however, milder forms of the disease are now recognized. Some speculate that AFLP is part of the spectrum of preeclampsia. Liver histology shows microvesicular fat and little or no inflammation or hepatocellular necrosis. Treatment consists of expeditious delivery and maximal supportive care, which may include intensive care unit monitoring, blood component therapy, glucose infusion, sodium restriction, diuretic agents, mechanical ventilation, and dialysis. The role of hepatic transplantation in AFLP appears limited. The risk of mortality during AFLP must be compared with the short- and long-term morbidity and mortality associated with liver transplantation.

Herpes simplex virus hepatitis in pregnancy. Two patients successfully treated with acyclovir.

Two cases of herpes simplex virus hepatitis in pregnancy are presented. Each case was characterized by extremely high serum aminotransferase levels with minimal bilirubin elevation. In both cases, liver biopsy was instrumental in arriving at the diagnosis. In addition, computed tomography showed a radiographic appearance of the liver not characteristically seen in other hepatic disorders of pregnancy. A high index of suspicion in the second case led to early recognition and treatment. Despite the presence of fulminant liver failure and evidence of herpes encephalitis in the other case, institution of therapy with acyclovir was associated with complete recovery in both patients. The present cases are compared and contrasted with the literature. The incidence of two cases within a 6-month period suggests that herpes simplex virus hepatitis in pregnancy may occur more frequently than previously reported.

Maternal and uteroplacental hemodynamic effects of chronic captopril in the hypertensive, term-pregnant rat.

The chronic effects of captopril on maternal hemodynamics and organ perfusion were investigated in 10 untreated and 10 captopril-treated pregnant spontaneously hypertensive rats by means of the radioactive-labeled microsphere technique. The normal decrease in blood pressure during gestation was prevented by reduction of litter size to two conceptuses on day 7 of gestation. Captopril (approximately 10 mg/kg/day) or drug vehicle (50% ethyl alcohol) was administered intraperitoneally by an osmotic pump from day 7 to 21. At term mean arterial pressure was 23% lower in the captopril-treated group as the result of a 29% decrease in total peripheral resistance without a significant change in cardiac output. The decrease in total peripheral resistance was primarily caused by a decline in splanchnic and skin resistances. Maternal organ and uteroplacental perfusion were not significantly altered. We conclude that administration of captopril during the last 2 weeks of pregnancy in the hypertensive rat effectively lowers maternal blood pressure without adverse effects on organ and uteroplacental perfusion.