Valvular heart disease and pregnancy.
Among women with valvular heart disease, those with mitral stenosis carry the greatest potential for problems during pregnancy. Asymptomatic women with aortic stenosis and only mild or moderate left ventricular outflow obstruction generally tolerate pregnancy well, as do those with regurgitant lesions. In Marfan syndrome, pregnancy should not be undertaken if the aortic root dimension exceeds 4 cm. Even if the aortic root is normal, a small increased risk of dissection is present. Women with well-functioning bioprosthetic valves and normal hemodynamics may safely undertake a pregnancy, although bioprostheses deteriorate rapidly in young people.
Division of Cardiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 601 North Caroline Street, JHOC 7262, Baltimore, MD 21287-0960, USA. ttraill@jhmi.edu
Thomas A
TA
Traill
D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis / Q000379:methods; D002312:Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; D006801:Humans; D008382:Marfan Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D016742:Preconception Care / Q000379:methods; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000628:therapy*; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000517:prevention & control; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors