title: Prospective evaluation from single centre of pregnancy in women with congenital heart disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Study of outcomes of pregnancy in women with congenital heart disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  The cardiac state during and after pregnancy was analysed in 173 women (mean age 28 years, range 21-41) referred for fetal echocardiography and evaluation of maternal heart during 201 pregnancies. Acyanotic lesions were present in 152 women (100 operated), in 175 pregnancies; cyanotic lesions in 21, all operated, in 26 pregnancies. Eighteen patients in 20 pregnancies (9.9% pregnancies) presented an increased risk due to severe arrhythmias or relevant residual hemodynamic lesions (risk group).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Complications related to heart defects occurred in 9/201 (4.5%), pregnancies: in 6/175 (3.4%) pregnancies with acyanotic lesions, in 3/26 (11.5%) with cyanotic lesions and in 9/20 pregnancies of the risk group (45%), with a statistically significant difference with respect to the non-risk group. Two cases had serious tachyarrhythmias, five worsened hemodynamic state or cyanosis, one had hemorrhage post-partum on anticoagulants and one died of a rupture of isthmic aneurysm post-coarctectomy. Prematurity occurred in 19.2% of pregnancies with cyanotic and 5.7% with acyanotic lesions. There were 6/201 recurrences of cardiac anomaly (3%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with uncomplicated heart disease had normal course of pregnancy, while complications due to serious arrhythmias or residual hemodynamical lesions and cyanosis occurred in 4.5% of pregnancies and, mainly in 45% of those with increased risk. Thorough evaluation of the cardiologic risk is mandatory for a correct counseling of women planning pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Center of Fetal Cardiology, Policlinico San Donato, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Vlasta M E
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Fesslova'
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Villa
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chessa
authors.forename: Gianfranco
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Butera
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Salmona
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Acaia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult