Cardiovascular outcomes of pregnancy in Turner syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: Women with Turner syndrome (TS) are frequently counselled against pregnancy due to lack of data and unclear aortic dissection risk. However, with advances in fertility therapy, more women with TS are contemplating pregnancy. This study compared rates of adverse cardiovascular (CV) outcomes among: (1) pregnant and non-pregnant women with TS and (2) pregnant women with TS with/without structural heart disease. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of pregnant and age-matched non-pregnant controls with TS (2005-2017) across 10 CV centres was done. Data were collected at initial evaluation in pregnancy and outcomes were assessed to 6 months postpartum. Adverse CV events were defined as CV death, aortic dissection/rupture and/or aortic intervention. Non-pregnant age-matched controls were followed over the same time period. RESULTS: Sixty-eight pregnancies were included (60 women, mean age 33 years, 48% primigravid, 49% fertility therapy, 80% structurally normal heart, 25% XO karyotype). Based on American Society of Reproductive Medicine criteria, 10 pregnancies occurred in women stratified to high-risk category. There were no CV events in the pregnant women or in the non-pregnant women with TS. Obstetric events complicated 12 (18%) pregnancies with 9 (13%) attributed to hypertensive disorder of pregnancy. Fetal events included small for gestational age neonates (18%), preterm delivery (15%) and fetal death (3%). CONCLUSIONS: This study helps to refine the approach to pregnancy in women with TS. Among women with TS without structural heart disease, pregnancy does not impose an increased risk of CV outcomes. Among women with TS with structural heart disease, the risk of pregnancy is not as prohibitive as previously described but does require ongoing evaluation.

Pregnancy outcomes in women with cardiovascular disease: evolving trends over 10 years in the ESC Registry Of Pregnancy And Cardiac disease (ROPAC).

AIMS: Reducing maternal mortality is a World Health Organization (WHO) global health goal. Although maternal deaths due to haemorrhage and infection are declining, those related to heart disease are increasing and are now the most important cause in western countries. The aim is to define contemporary diagnosis-specific outcomes in pregnant women with heart disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: From 2007 to 2018, pregnant women with heart disease were prospectively enrolled in the Registry Of Pregnancy And Cardiac disease (ROPAC). Primary outcome was maternal mortality or heart failure, secondary outcomes were other cardiac, obstetric, and foetal complications. We enrolled 5739 pregnancies; the mean age was 29.5. Prevalent diagnoses were congenital (57%) and valvular heart disease (29%). Mortality (overall 0.6%) was highest in the pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) group (9%). Heart failure occurred in 11%, arrhythmias in 2%. Delivery was by Caesarean section in 44%. Obstetric and foetal complications occurred in 17% and 21%, respectively. The number of high-risk pregnancies (mWHO Class IV) increased from 0.7% in 2007-2010 to 10.9% in 2015-2018. Determinants for maternal complications were pre-pregnancy heart failure or New York Heart Association >II, systemic ejection fraction <40%, mWHO Class 4, and anticoagulants use. After an increase from 2007 to 2009, complication rates fell from 13.2% in 2010 to 9.3% in 2017. CONCLUSION: Rates of maternal mortality or heart failure were high in women with heart disease. However, from 2010, these rates declined despite the inclusion of more high-risk pregnancies. Highest complication rates occurred in women with PAH.

Cardiovascular Health in Turner Syndrome: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association.

Girls and women with Turner syndrome face a lifelong struggle with both congenital heart disease and acquired cardiovascular conditions. Bicuspid aortic valve is common, and many have left-sided heart obstructive disease of varying severity, from hypoplastic left-sided heart syndrome to minimal aortic stenosis or coarctation of the aorta. Significant enlargement of the thoracic aorta may progress to catastrophic aortic dissection and rupture. It is becoming increasingly apparent that a variety of other cardiovascular conditions, including early-onset hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and stroke, are the major factors reducing the life span of those with Turner syndrome. The presentations and management of cardiovascular conditions in Turner syndrome differ significantly from the general population. Therefore, an international working group reviewed the available evidence regarding the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases in Turner syndrome. It is recognized that the suggestions for clinical practice stated here are only the beginning of a process that must also involve the establishment of quality indicators, structures and processes for implementation, and outcome studies.

Pregnancy Outcomes in Women With Rheumatic Mitral Valve Disease: Results From the Registry of Pregnancy and Cardiac Disease.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac disease is 1 of the major causes of maternal mortality. We studied pregnancy outcomes in women with rheumatic mitral valve disease. METHODS: The Registry of Pregnancy and Cardiac Disease is an international prospective registry, and consecutive pregnant women with cardiac disease were included. Pregnancy outcomes in all women with rheumatic mitral valve disease and no prepregnancy valve replacement is described in the present study (n=390). A maternal cardiac event was defined as cardiac death, arrhythmia requiring treatment, heart failure, thromboembolic event, aortic dissection, endocarditis, acute coronary syndrome, and hospitalization for other cardiac reasons or cardiac intervention. Associations between patient characteristics and cardiac outcomes were checked in a 3-level model (patient-center-country). RESULTS: Most patients came from emerging countries (75%). Mitral stenosis (MS) with or without mitral regurgitation (MR) was present in 273 women, isolated MR in 117. The degree of MS was mild in 20.9%, moderate in 39.2%, severe in 19.8%, and severity not classified in the remainder. Maternal death during pregnancy occurred in 1 patient with severe MS. Hospital admission occurred in 23.1% of the women with MS, and the main reason was heart failure (mild MS 15.8%, moderate 23.4%, severe 48.1%; P<0.001). Heart failure occurred in 23.1% of patients with moderate or severe MR. An intervention during pregnancy was performed in 16 patients, 14 had percutaneous balloon mitral commissurotomy, and 2 had surgical valve replacement (1 for MS, 1 for MR). In multivariable modeling, prepregnancy New York Heart Association class >1 was an independent predictor of maternal cardiac events. Follow-up at 6 months postpartum was available for 53%, and 3 more patients died (1 with severe MS, 1 with moderate MS, 1 with moderate to severe MR). CONCLUSIONS: Although mortality was only 1.9% during pregnancy, ≈50% of the patients with severe rheumatic MS and 23% of those with significant MR developed heart failure during pregnancy. Prepregnancy counseling and considering mitral valve interventions in selected patients are important to prevent these complications.

Influence of socioeconomic factors on pregnancy outcome in women with structural heart disease.

OBJECTIVE: Cardiac disease is the leading cause of indirect maternal mortality. The aim of this study was to analyse to what extent socioeconomic factors influence the outcome of pregnancy in women with heart disease. METHODS: The Registry of Pregnancy and Cardiac disease is a global prospective registry. For this analysis, countries that enrolled ≥10 patients were included. A combined cardiac endpoint included maternal cardiac death, arrhythmia requiring treatment, heart failure, thromboembolic event, aortic dissection, endocarditis, acute coronary syndrome, hospitalisation for cardiac reason or intervention. Associations between patient characteristics, country characteristics (income inequality expressed as Gini coefficient, health expenditure, schooling, gross domestic product, birth rate and hospital beds) and cardiac endpoints were checked in a three-level model (patient-centre-country). RESULTS: A total of 30 countries enrolled 2924 patients from 89 centres. At least one endpoint occurred in 645 women (22.1%). Maternal age, New York Heart Association classification and modified WHO risk classification were associated with the combined endpoint and explained 37% of variance in outcome. Gini coefficient and country-specific birth rate explained an additional 4%. There were large differences between the individual countries, but the need for multilevel modelling to account for these differences disappeared after adjustment for patient characteristics, Gini and country-specific birth rate. CONCLUSION: While there are definite interregional differences in pregnancy outcome in women with cardiac disease, these differences seem to be mainly driven by individual patient characteristics. Adjustment for country characteristics refined the results to a limited extent, but maternal condition seems to be the main determinant of outcome.

Partial anomalous pulmonary venous return in Turner syndrome.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to describe the prevalence, anatomy, associations and clinical impact of partial anomalous pulmonary venous return in patients with Turner syndrome. METHODS AND RESULTS: All Turner patients who presented at our Turner clinic, between January 2007 and October 2015 were included in this study and underwent ECG, echocardiography and advanced imaging such as cardiac magnetic resonance or computed tomography as part of their regular clinical workup. All imaging was re-evaluated and detailed anatomy was described. Partial anomalous pulmonary venous return was diagnosed in 24 (25%) out of 96 Turner patients included and 14 (58%) of these 24 partial anomalous pulmonary venous return had not been reported previously. Right atrial or ventricular dilatation was present in 11 (46%) of 24 partial anomalous pulmonary venous return patients. CONCLUSION: When studied with advanced imaging modalities and looked for with specific attention, PAPVR is found in 1 out of 4 Turner patients. Half of these patients had right atrial and/or ventricular dilatation. Evaluation of pulmonary venous return should be included in the standard protocol in all Turner patients.

Echocardiographic Prediction of Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Response Requires Analysis of Both Mechanical Dyssynchrony and Right Ventricular Function: A Combined Analysis of Patient Data and Computer Simulations.

BACKGROUND: Pronounced echocardiographically measured mechanical dyssynchrony is a positive predictor of response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), whereas right ventricular (RV) dysfunction is a negative predictor. The aim of this study was to investigate how RV dysfunction influences the association between mechanical dyssynchrony and left ventricular (LV) volumetric remodeling following CRT. METHODS: One hundred twenty-two CRT candidates (mean LV ejection fraction, 19 ± 6%; mean QRS width, 168 ± 21 msec) were prospectively enrolled and underwent echocardiography before and 6 months after CRT. Volumetric remodeling was defined as percentage reduction in LV end-systolic volume. RV dysfunction was defined as RV fractional area change < 35%. Mechanical dyssynchrony was assessed as time to peak strain between the septum and LV lateral wall, interventricular mechanical delay, and septal systolic rebound stretch. Simulations of heart failure with an LV conduction delay in the CircAdapt computer model were used to investigate how LV and RV myocardial contractility influence LV dyssynchrony and acute CRT response. RESULTS: In the entire patient cohort, higher baseline septal systolic rebound stretch, time to peak strain between the septum and LV lateral wall, and interventricular mechanical delay were all associated with LV volumetric remodeling in univariate analysis (R = 0.599, R = 0.421, and R = 0.410, respectively, P < .01 for all). The association between septal systolic rebound stretch and LV volumetric remodeling was even stronger in patients without RV dysfunction (R = 0.648, P < .01). However, none of the mechanical dyssynchrony parameters were associated with LV remodeling in the RV dysfunction subgroup. The computer simulations showed that low RV contractility reduced CRT response but hardly affected mechanical dyssynchrony. In contrast, LV contractility changes had congruent effects on mechanical dyssynchrony and CRT response. CONCLUSIONS: Mechanical dyssynchrony parameters do not reflect the negative impact of reduced RV contractility on CRT response. Echocardiographic prediction of CRT response should therefore include parameters of mechanical dyssynchrony and RV function.

Incidence and predictors of obstetric and fetal complications in women with structural heart disease.

OBJECTIVE: Women with cardiac disease becoming pregnant have an increased risk of obstetric and fetal events. The aim of this study was to study the incidence of events, to validate the modified WHO (mWHO) risk classification and to search for event-specific predictors. METHODS: The Registry Of Pregnancy And Cardiac disease is a worldwide ongoing prospective registry that has enrolled 2742 pregnancies in women with known cardiac disease (mainly congenital and valvular disease) before pregnancy, from January 2008 up to April 2014. RESULTS: Mean age was 28.2±5.5 years, 45% were nulliparous and 33.3% came from emerging countries. Obstetric events occurred in 231 pregnancies (8.4%). Fetal events occurred in 651 pregnancies (23.7%). The mWHO classification performed poorly in predicting obstetric (c-statistic=0.601) and fetal events (c-statistic=0.561). In multivariable analysis, aortic valve disease was associated with pre-eclampsia (OR=2.6, 95%CI=1.3 to 5.5). Congenital heart disease (CHD) was associated with spontaneous preterm birth (OR=1.8, 95%CI=1.2 to 2.7). Complex CHD was associated with small-for-gestational-age neonates (OR=2.3, 95%CI=1.5 to 3.5). Multiple gestation was the strongest predictor of fetal events: fetal/neonatal death (OR=6.4, 95%CI=2.5 to 16), spontaneous preterm birth (OR=5.3, 95%CI=2.5 to 11) and small-for-gestational age (OR=5.0, 95%CI=2.5 to 9.8). CONCLUSION: The mWHO classification is not suitable for prediction of obstetric and fetal events in women with cardiac disease. Maternal complex CHD was independently associated with fetal growth restriction and aortic valve disease with pre-eclampsia, potentially offering an insight into the pathophysiology of these pregnancy complications. The increased rates of adverse obstetric and fetal outcomes in women with pre-existing heart disease should be highlighted during counselling.

Wish to conceive and concerns to develop cardiovascular complications during pregnancy in patients with Turner syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: Turner syndrome (TS) is associated with subfertility and infertility. Nevertheless, an increasing number of women become pregnant through oocyte donation. The wish to conceive may be negatively influenced by the fear of cardiovascular complications. The aim was to investigate the wish to conceive and the concerns about cardiovascular complications during pregnancy in women with TS. METHODS: The patient association for TS invited all members of ≥18 years old (n = 344) to complete a specifically developed, disease-specific questionnaire, including questions about fertility, wish to conceive, attempts and concerns. Results were compared with previously published results of this questionnaire in women with congenital heart disease. RESULTS: The questionnaire was completed by 89 women (median age 30.1 years, Q1-Q3 = 22.9-39.4). Of them, 51% had 45, X0-monosomy and 38% had ≥1 cardiac abnormality. Seventeen women (19%) had attempted to become pregnant and 12 of them succeeded to become pregnant. Women who had not undertaken attempts to conceive (81%), considered themselves mainly too young or had no partner. Of the total sample, 58% were concerned about the influence of pregnancy on their cardiovascular status. This was higher (75%) in the sample of women with TS and cardiac abnormalities, than in women with congenital heart disease from a previously published cohort (21%), (p < .001). There were no differences in concerns about pregnancy complications between women with TS who respectively had or had not attempted to become pregnant. DISCUSSION: Women with TS, especially those with cardiac abnormalities, show serious concerns about the risks pregnancy may have. Patients should be timely counseled and specifically asked about their concerns. Psychosocial care should be provided when necessary.

Risk of Pregnancy in Moderate and Severe Aortic Stenosis: From the Multinational ROPAC Registry.

BACKGROUND: Controversial results on maternal risk and fetal outcome have been reported in women with aortic stenosis (AS). OBJECTIVES: The authors sought to investigate maternal and fetal outcomes in patients with AS in a large cohort. METHODS: The Registry on Pregnancy and Cardiac Disease (ROPAC) is a global, prospective observational registry of women with structural heart disease, providing a uniquely large study population. Data of women with moderate (peak gradient 36 to 63 mm Hg) and severe AS (peak gradient ≥64 mm Hg) were analyzed. RESULTS: Of 2,966 pregnancies in ROPAC, the authors identified 96 women who had at least moderate AS (34 with severe AS). No deaths were observed during pregnancy and in the first week after delivery. However, 20.8% of women were hospitalized for cardiac reasons during pregnancy. This was significantly more common in severe AS compared with moderate AS (35.3% vs. 12.9%; p = 0.02), and reached the highest rate (42.1%) in severe, symptomatic AS. Pregnancy was complicated by heart failure in 6.7% of asymptomatic and 26.3% of symptomatic patients, but could be managed medically, except for 1 patient who was symptomatic before pregnancy and underwent balloon valvotomy. Children of patients with severe AS had a significantly higher percentage of low birth weight (35.0% vs. 6.0%; p = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Mortality in pregnant women with AS, including those with severe AS, appears to be close to zero in the current era. Symptomatic and severe AS does, however, carry a substantial risk of heart failure and is associated with high rates of hospitalization for cardiac reasons, although heart failure can nearly always be managed medically. The results highlight the importance of appropriate pre-conceptional patient evaluation and counseling.

Ventricular tachyarrhythmia during pregnancy in women with heart disease: Data from the ROPAC, a registry from the European Society of Cardiology.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the incidence, onset, predictors and outcome of ventricular tachyarrhythmia (VTA) in pregnant women with heart disease. BACKGROUND: VTA during pregnancy will cause maternal morbidity and even mortality and will have impact on fetal outcome. Insufficient data exist on the incidence and outcome of VTA in pregnancy. METHODS AND RESULTS: From January 2007 up to October 2013, 99 hospitals in 39 countries enrolled 2966 pregnancies in women with structural heart disease. Forty-two women (1.4%) developed clinically relevant VTA during pregnancy, which occurred mainly in the third trimester (48%). NYHA class >1 before pregnancy was an independent predictor for VTA. Heart failure during pregnancy was more common in women with VTA than in women without VTA (24% vs. 12%, p=0.03) and maternal mortality was respectively 2.4% and 0.3% (p=0.15). More women with VTA delivered by Cesarean section than women without VTA (68% vs. 47%, p=0.01). Neonatal death, preterm birth (<37weeks), low birthweight (<2500g) and Apgar score <7 occurred more often in women with VTA (4.8% vs. 0.3%, p=0.01; 36% vs. 16%, p=0.001; 33% vs. 15%, p=0.001 and 25% vs. 7.3%, p=0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: VTA occurred in 1.4% of pregnant women with cardiovascular disease, mainly in the third trimester, and was associated with heart failure during pregnancy. NYHA class before pregnancy was predictive. VTA during pregnancy had clear impact on fetal outcome.

Pulmonary hypertension and pregnancy outcomes: data from the Registry Of Pregnancy and Cardiac Disease (ROPAC) of the European Society of Cardiology.

AIMS: To describe the outcomes of pregnancy in women with pulmonary hypertension. METHODS AND RESULTS: In 2007 the European Registry on Pregnancy and Heart Disease was initiated by the European Society of Cardiology. Consecutive patients with all forms of cardiovascular disease, presenting with pregnancy, were enrolled with the aim of investigating the pregnancy outcomes. This subgroup of the cohort included 151 women with pulmonary hypertension (PH) either diagnosed by right heart catheterization or diagnosed as possible PH by echocardiographic signs, with 26% having pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), in three subgroups: idiopathic (iPAH), associated with congenital heart disease (CHD-PAH), or associated with other disease (oPAH), and 74% having PH caused by left heart disease (LHD-PH, n = 112). Maternal mean age was 29.2 ± 5.6 years and 37% were nulliparous. Right ventricular systolic pressure was <50 mmHg in 59.6% of patients, 50-70 mmHg in 28.5% and >70 mmHg in 11.9%. In more than 75% of patients, the diagnosis of PH had been made before pregnancy. Maternal death up to 1 week after delivery occurred in five patients (3.3%), with another two out of 78 patients who presented for follow-up (2.6%), dying within 6 months after delivery. The highest mortality was found in iPAH (3/7, 43%). During pregnancy, heart failure occurred in 27%. Caesarean section was performed in 63.4% (23.9% as emergency). Therapeutic abortion was performed in 4.0%. Complications included miscarriage (5.6%), fetal mortality (2%), premature delivery (21.7%), low birth weight (19.0%), and neonatal mortality (0.7%). CONCLUSION: Mortality in this group of patients with various forms of PH was lower than previously reported as specialized care during pregnancy and delivery was available. However, maternal and fetal mortality remains prohibitively high in women with iPAH, although this conclusion is restricted by limited numbers. Early advice on contraception, pregnancy risk and fetal outcome remains paramount.

Global cardiac risk assessment in the Registry Of Pregnancy And Cardiac disease: results of a registry from the European Society of Cardiology.

AIMS: To validate the modified World Health Organization (mWHO) risk classification in advanced and emerging countries, and to identify additional risk factors for cardiac events during pregnancy. METHODS AND RESULTS: The ongoing prospective worldwide Registry Of Pregnancy And Cardiac disease (ROPAC) included 2742 pregnant women (mean age ± standard deviation, 29.2 ± 5.5 years) with established cardiac disease: 1827 from advanced countries and 915 from emerging countries. In patients from advanced countries, congenital heart disease was the most prevalent diagnosis (70%) while in emerging countries valvular heart disease was more common (55%). A cardiac event occurred in 566 patients (20.6%) during pregnancy: 234 (12.8%) in advanced countries and 332 (36.3%) in emerging countries. The mWHO classification had a moderate performance to discriminate between women with and without cardiac events (c-statistic 0.711 and 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.686-0.735). However, its performance in advanced countries (0.726) was better than in emerging countries (0.633). The best performance was found in patients with acquired heart disease from developed countries (0.712). Pre-pregnancy signs of heart failure and, in advanced countries, atrial fibrillation and no previous cardiac intervention added prognostic value to the mWHO classification, with a c-statistic of 0.751 (95% CI 0.715-0.786) in advanced countries and of 0.724 (95% CI 0.691-0.758) in emerging countries. CONCLUSION: The mWHO risk classification is a useful tool for predicting cardiac events during pregnancy in women with established cardiac disease in advanced countries, but seems less effective in emerging countries. Data on pre-pregnancy cardiac condition including signs of heart failure and atrial fibrillation, may help to improve preconception counselling in advanced and emerging countries.

Pregnancy in Women With a Mechanical Heart Valve: Data of the European Society of Cardiology Registry of Pregnancy and Cardiac Disease (ROPAC).

BACKGROUND: Pregnant women with a mechanical heart valve (MHV) are at a heightened risk of a thrombotic event, and their absolute need for adequate anticoagulation puts them at considerable risk of bleeding and, with some anticoagulants, fetotoxicity. METHODS AND RESULTS: Within the prospective, observational, contemporary, worldwide Registry of Pregnancy and Cardiac disease (ROPAC), we describe the pregnancy outcome of 212 patients with an MHV. We compare them with 134 patients with a tissue heart valve and 2620 other patients without a prosthetic valve. Maternal mortality occurred in 1.4% of the patients with an MHV, in 1.5% of patients with a tissue heart valve (P=1.000), and in 0.2% of patients without a prosthetic valve (P=0.025). Mechanical valve thrombosis complicated pregnancy in 10 patients with an MHV (4.7%). In 5 of these patients, the valve thrombosis occurred in the first trimester, and all 5 patients had been switched to some form of heparin. Hemorrhagic events occurred in 23.1% of patients with an MHV, in 5.1% of patients with a tissue heart valve (P<0.001), and in 4.9% of patients without a prosthetic valve (P<0.001). Only 58% of the patients with an MHV had a pregnancy free of serious adverse events compared with 79% of patients with a tissue heart valve (P<0.001) and 78% of patients without a prosthetic valve (P<0.001). Vitamin K antagonist use in the first trimester compared with heparin was associated with a higher rate of miscarriage (28.6% versus 9.2%; P<0.001) and late fetal death (7.1% versus 0.7%; P=0.016). CONCLUSIONS: Women with an MHV have only a 58% chance of experiencing an uncomplicated pregnancy with a live birth. The markedly increased mortality and morbidity warrant extensive prepregnancy counseling and centralization of care.

Atrial Fibrillation or Flutter During Pregnancy in Patients With Structural Heart Disease: Data From the ROPAC (Registry on Pregnancy and Cardiac Disease).

OBJECTIVES: Atrial fibrillation (AF)/atrial flutter (AFL) during pregnancy in these women is associated with adverse outcome of pregnancy. BACKGROUND: The incidence, timing, and consequences of AF or AFL during pregnancy in patients with heart disease are not well known. METHODS: Between January 2008 to June 2011, 60 hospitals in 28 countries prospectively enrolled 1,321 pregnant women with congenital heart disease, valvular heart disease, ischemic heart disease, or cardiomyopathy in the ROPAC (Registry of Pregnancy and Cardiac Disease). We studied the incidence, onset, and predictors of AF/AFL during pregnancy and assessed the pregnancy outcome. An overview of the existing literature is provided. RESULTS: Seventeen women (1.3%) developed AF/AFL during pregnancy, mainly in the second trimester (61.5%). Univariable analysis identified the following pre-pregnancy risk factors for AF/AFL in pregnancy: AF/AFL before pregnancy (odds ratio [OR]: 7.1, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.5 to 32.8); mitral valvular heart disease (OR: 6.9, 95% CI: 2.6 to 18.3); beta-blocker use (OR: 3.3, 95% CI: 1.2 to 9.0); and left-sided lesions (OR: 2.9, 95% CI: 1.0 to 8.3). Maternal mortality was higher in women with than in women without AF/AFL (11.8% vs. 0.9%; p = 0.01), although heart failure was not seen more often. Low birth weight (<2,500 g) occurred more often in women with than in women without AF/AFL (35% vs. 14%; p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: AF/AFL occurs in 1.3% of pregnant patients with structural heart disease with a peak at the end of the second trimester. AF/AFL during pregnancy in cardiac patients is associated with unfavorable maternal outcome and also has an impact on fetal birth weight.

Aorta pathology and pregnancy.

In addition to the haemodynamic changes in pregnancy, hormones also induce changes in the aortic wall. Women with diseases like Marfan syndrome, Ehlers-Danlo syndrome, or other aortic abnormalities, have an increased risk of complications during pregnancy. Counselling and risk assessment before pregnancy is mandatory for all women with known aortic disease. Proper information should be provided about the risks of morbidity and mortality during pregnancy and information on the risks for the fetus, including the potential recurrence of disease in the offspring. Evaluation of past medical and family history, the aortic size before conception, and any increase in size before and during pregnancy, is essential to try and estimate the risk of aortic dissection. If the aorta is dilated, prophylactic repair before pregnancy may be indicated. In some cases, elective surgery during pregnancy may be warranted. In women with a severely dilated ascending aorta, caesarean section is, at present, the advised mode of delivery.