Outcome of pregnancy in women with congenital heart disease : A literature review

• Published in: Journal of the American College of Cardiology Vol. 49; no. 24; pp. 2303 - 2311
• Main Authors: DRENTHEN, Willem, PIEPER, Petronella G, EBELS, Tjark, VAN VELDHUISEN, Dirk J, ROOS-HESSELINK, Jolien W, VAN LOTTUM, Willem A, VOORS, Adriaan A, MULDER, Barbara J. M, VAN DIJK, Arie P. J, VLIEGEN, Hubert W, YAP, Sing C, MOONS, Philip
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Science 19.06.2007; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Abortion; Abortion, Spontaneous - epidemiology; Abortion, Therapeutic - statistics & numerical data; Adult; Arrhythmias, Cardiac - epidemiology; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiac Output, Low - epidemiology; Cardiology; Cardiology. Vascular system; Cardiovascular disease; Defects; Female; Health risk assessment; Heart attacks; Heart Defects, Congenital - epidemiology; Heart failure; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial - epidemiology; Humans; Hypertension; Hypertension, Portal - epidemiology; Libraries; Medical sciences; Miscarriage; Mortality; Obstetric Labor, Premature - epidemiology; Patients; Preeclampsia; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular - epidemiology; Pregnancy Outcome - epidemiology; Premature birth; Premature labor; Tetralogy of Fallot - epidemiology; Thromboembolism - epidemiology; Transposition of Great Vessels - epidemiology; Womens health; Pregnancy; Human; Prognosis; Cardiovascular disease; Evolution; Female; Circulatory system; Cardiology; Congenital cardiopathy; Woman; Phlebology; Bibliographic review
• ISSN: 0735-1097; 1558-3597
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2007.03.027

A search of peer-reviewed literature was conducted to identify reports that provide data on complications associated with pregnancy in women with structural congenital heart disease (CHD). This review describes the outcome of 2,491 pregnancies, including 377 miscarriages (15%) and 114 elective abortions (5%). Important cardiac complications were seen in 11% of the pregnancies. Obstetric complications do not appear to be more prevalent. In complex CHD, premature delivery rates are high, and more children are small for gestational age. The offspring mortality was high throughout the spectrum and was related to the relatively high rate of premature delivery and recurrence of CHD.