title: Mode of delivery in women after liver transplantation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A high rate of cesarean sections has been reported among high-risk pregnancies in liver transplant recipients. The aim of this study was to analyze the course of deliveries and the indications for cesarean sections in women after liver transplantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 2001 to 2006, we noted 21 deliveries in 17 liver recipients. The mean age of women was 27.9 +/- 6.6 years and the mean time from transplantation to pregnancy was 4.3 +/- 3.6 years. Most patients were primigravidas on tacrolimus-based immunosuppressive regimens. We retrospectively analyzed obstetric data regarding the delivery and the early puerperium.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We noted 6 vaginal deliveries (29%) and 15 cesarean sections (71%). Mean gestational age in the group of vaginal deliveries was 37.6 +/- 2.2 weeks. No labor complications were noted. All neonates were delivered in a good state (Apgar score from 8 to 10 points) with mean birth weight of 2725 g. All cesarean sections were performed for obstetric indications: fetal distress, breech presentation, intrauterine growth retardation, or complications related to premature labor. Mean gestational age was 37.0 +/- 1.9 weeks. The Apgar scores ranged from 4 to 10 points; mean birth weight was 2787 g. The mean period of hospitalization after surgical labor was 4 days longer compared with the vaginal delivery group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The high rate of cesarean sections (71%) in liver recipients is associated with a great incidence of obstetric complications of pregnancy. Safe and uneventful vaginal delivery is possible with growing experience in the management of pregnant transplanted women.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Jabiry-Zieniewicz
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bobrowska
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pietrzak
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kaminski
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kaminski
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wielgos
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Durlik
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zieniewicz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001034:Apgar Score; D001724:Birth Weight; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000502:physiology*; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies