title: Pregnancy and the cardiovascular system.
abstract: The cardiovascular system undergoes important adaptations during pregnancy to accommodate for fetal requirements. This causes a hemodynamic burden on patients with underlying heart disease, and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Moreover, certain cardiovascular diseases may be due to pregnancy. Although unusual, these diseases can pose a threat to the pregnant woman and her fetus. This review will discuss cardiovascular adaptations to pregnancy as well as the risk of pregnancy in patients with underlying heart disease. It will also provide a brief overview of cardiovascular disorders associated with pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ 85259, USA. abbas.amr@mayo.edu
authors.forename: Amr E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Abbas
authors.forename: Steven J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lester
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Connolly
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000601:surgery; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000601:surgery; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D002320:Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena; D003376:Counseling; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D010348:Patient Care Team; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants