Progress: the ROPAC multinational registry advances our understanding of an important outcome in pregnant women with heart disease

When caring for women with structural heart disease (SHD), clinicians face an apparent paradox: most women with SHD are able to complete a pregnancy without complication; however, compared with the general population, maternal risk is increased and SHD remains a major source of maternal morbidity and mortality and poor fetal outcomes.1–4 Identifying those women with SHD who are at increased risk for meaningful complications during pregnancy is critical. During pregnancy, intravascular volume, stroke volume, heart rate and cardiac output increase, while systemic vascular resistance decreases. During pregnancy, women with congenital heart disease (CHD), cardiomyopathy or valve disease can develop heart failure due to these physiologic changes. Preconception risk stratification allows women with heart disease to decide if they wish to conceive. Additionally, identifying patients at high risk for cardiac complications provides time to plan the optimal strategy for cardiac surveillance...
Source: Heart - Category: Cardiology Authors: Tags: Congenital heart disease, Drugs: cardiovascular system, Hypertension, Acute coronary syndromes, Epidemiology Editorials Source Type: research