title: Pregnancy after heart transplant: update and case report.
abstract: A literature review of 22 cases of pregnancy following cardiac transplantation up to 1995 and a case report are presented here. A 30 year old woman, gravida 3, para 1, contacted us for obstetric care at 8 weeks gestation, about 55 months after orthotopic cardiac transplantation. The transplant had been performed for a familial dilative cardiomyopathy, which had become manifest during her previous pregnancy. The course of the current gestation was uneventful. The patient's cardiovascular function was good throughout the pregnancy. Immunosuppressive therapy, the dose of which was increased during pregnancy, included cyclosporine and azathioprine. Because of an increase in the patient's plasma uric acid concentration and an initial rise in her blood pressure, despite therapy, a repeat Caesarean section was performed at 37 weeks gestation. A female baby weighing 2330 g, Apgar scores 7/9, was delivered. Mother and infant were discharged on postoperative day 15 and are doing well 14 months postpartum. Through a review of literature and our case, the issues and problems related to pregnancy after a heart transplant are discussed, in particular the maternal-fetal risks, management, therapy, delivery, neonatal problems and follow-up postpartum of mother and baby.
authors.affiliation: First Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Physiopathology of Human Reproduction, University of Rome La Sapienza, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morini
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Spina
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Aleandri
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cantonetti
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lambiasi
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Papalia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000601:surgery; D002585:Cesarean Section; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D014527:Uric Acid; D016572:Cyclosporine; D001379:Azathioprine