[The role of mitral valve balloon valvuloplasty in the treatment of rheumatic mitral valve stenosis during pregnancy].
To analyze the immediate results and the clinical evolution of a group of fertile age women with rheumatic mitral stenosis, in whom percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty was performed before or during pregnancy.



Eighty-one women with mitral stenosis, submitted to balloon mitral vavuloplasty, were studied. They were divided into three groups, according to their desire of no further pregnancies (group A; n = 19), pregnancy during the follow-up (group B; n = 23) or valvuloplasty was performed during pregnancy (group C; n = 39). Patients from group B and C were controlled during pregnancy, childbirth and puerperium, and the newborns of women in group C were followed from birth to the age of 5 years.



Mortality in the three groups was null and the incidence of miscarriage was 2 (8.6%) in group B and 3 (9.1%) in group C. Normal delivery was predominant in group B and delivery by caesarean was predominant in group B. Success was immediate in all the cases. The procedure was repeated in 3 women due to restenosis. The media valvar area rase from 0.93 to 2.05 cm2 in group A, from 1.28 to 2.04 cm2 in group B and from 0.84 to 2.14 cm2 in group C (intergroup p = NS). The functional class improved in the three groups of patients.



Percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty is an effective, efficient method for the treatment of rheumatic mitral stenosis during pregnancy, after organogenesis, or at any time in a woman's life, as long as it is indicated according to clinical and echocardiographic evaluation criteria.
de Andrade
J
J
Instituto Dante Pazzanese de Cardiologia. São Paulo. Brasil.
Maldonado
M
M
Pontes
S
S
Regina Elmec
A
A
Eduardo M R  De Sousa
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008946:Mitral Valve Stenosis / Q000601:surgery*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012214:Rheumatic Heart Disease / Q000601:surgery*; D014463:Ultrasonography