Pregnancy complications in women with heart disease

Objective.?To identify pregnancy complications of women with heart disease delivering at a university hospital.

Methods.?A retrospective study was carried out of 193 pregnant women with heart disease delivered at a university hospital between January 1997 and December 2006.

Results.?Rheumatic heart disease (RHD), congenital heart disease (CHD), arrhythmia and cardiomyopathy were observed in 133 (68.9%), 26 (13.5%), 32 (16.6%) and 2 (1%) cases, respectively. Obstetric complication was found in 27 (14%) cases that was composed of preterm delivery (11.4%), gestational diabetes (1%), pregnancy induced hypertension (1%) and postpartum hemorrhage (0.5%). Cardiac complication was observed in 24 (12.4%) cases. Congestive heart failure was the most common cardiac complication which observed in 11 (5.7%) cases. There were four (2.1 %) maternal deaths, three cases in CHD group and one case in RHD group. Preterm infant was observed in 22 (11.4%) cases. Thirteen percent had low birth weight and 8.3% were small for gestational age. There were no perinatal deaths or congenital anomalies.

Conclusion.?Form this study, RHD with pregnancy is still predominant. The most common obstetric complication was preterm delivery. The most common cardiac complication was congestive heart failure.     

Pregnancy complications in women with inherited thrombophilia

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine whether women with inherited thrombophilia have an increased risk of developing pregnancy complications. Methods: All singleton pregnancies with known inherited thrombophilia were compared to those without inherited thrombophilia for deliveries during the years 2000–2002 in a tertiary medical center. Data regarding inherited thrombophilia (International Classification of Disease 9th revision, Clinical Modification code 286.3) were available from the perinatal database in our center. Women lacking prenatal care were excluded from the analysis. Stratified analysis, using a multiple logistic regression model, was performed to control for confounders. Results: Out of 32,763 singleton deliveries that occurred during the study period, 0.2% (n=57) of the women were diagnosed with inherited thrombophilia. Using a multivariate analysis, with backward elimination, the following conditions were significantly associated with inherited thrombophilia: previous fetal losses [odds ratio (OR)=5.5; 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.9–10.3; P<0.001], recurrent abortions (OR=9.5; 95% CI 5.5–16.3; P<0.001), fertility treatments (OR=3.7; 95% CI 1.3–10.6; P=0.014), and intrauterine growth restriction (OR=7.2; 95% CI 3.4–15; P<0.001). Perinatal mortality was significantly higher in women with inherited thrombophilia than in those without known thrombophilia 5.3% (3/57) versus 0.6% (477/32,763) P=0.017. However, inherited thrombophilia was not found to be an independent risk factor for perinatal mortality (OR=3.05; 95% CI 0.90–10.3; P<0.073) in a multivariate analysis with perinatal mortality as the outcome variable, controlling for recurrent abortions, IUGR, and gestational age. Conclusion: Inherited thrombophilia, associated with previous fetal losses, recurrent abortions, fertility treatments, and intrauterine growth restriction, was not an independent risk factor for perinatal mortality.     

Perinatal outcomes and complications of pregnancy in women with immune thrombocytopenic purpura

Objective.?To investigate pregnancy and perinatal outcomes in women with immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP).

Methods. A retrospective study comparing all singleton pregnancies of women with and without ITP was conducted. Deliveries occurred between the years 1988 and 2007. Multiple logistic regression models were performed to control for confounders.

Results.?During the study period, 186,602 deliveries were recorded, out of which 104 (0.06%) occurred in patients with ITP. In a multivariable analysis, we found the following conditions to be significantly and independently associated with ITP: hypertensive disorders, diabetes mellitus, and preterm delivery (<34 weeks gestation). Patients with ITP had significantly higher rates of preterm delivery (<34 weeks gestation; 6.7%vs. 2.2%; p < 0.001) and perinatal mortality (4.8%vs. 1.3%; p = 0.011) when compared with patients without ITP. Two multivariable logistic regression models were constructed with perinatal mortality and preterm delivery (<34 weeks gestation) as the outcome variables to control for possible confounders such as congenital malformations, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and maternal age. In these models, ITP was found to be an independent risk factor for perinatal mortality (OR = 3.77; 95% CI 1.32–10.78, p = 0.013), as well as for preterm delivery before 34 weeks gestation (OR = 3.01; 95% CI 1.39–6.52, p = 0.005).

Conclusion.?ITP is significantly and independently associated with preterm delivery before 34 weeks gestation and with perinatal mortality.     

妊娠合并心脏病妊娠风险及分娩方式评估

妊娠合并心脏病是导致孕产妇死亡发生的重要原因之一,此类患者妊娠前及围产期的评估管理对降低孕产妇死亡率、改善母儿预后有重要作用。文章就目前国内外妊娠合并心脏病妊娠风险评估及分娩方式选择做一总结,为广大临床工作者对妊娠合并心脏的诊疗及管理提供参考。     

Pregnancy outcomes in women with heart disease: Experience of a tertiary center in the Netherlands

ObjectivesClinical data of pregnant women with heart disease were obtained with the intention to provide input for local counseling and management guidelines.Study designRetrospective data from all pregnant women with congenital or acquired heart disease between 2000 and 2011 in the VU University Medical Centre Amsterdam.Main outcome measuresMaternal and neonatal outcomes were evaluated.ResultsData of 122 women with 160 pregnancies were obtained. The most common heart diseases were congenital heart disease (n = 65, 53.3%) and arrhythmia (n = 20, 16.4%). Based on the functional criteria of the New York Heart Association (NYHA), 114/122 patients (93.4%) were classified NYHA class I–II. Patients in NYHA class III–IV (n = 8/122, 6.6%), mainly had a history of myocardial infarction or pulmonary hypertension. There were 156 singleton and 4 twin pregnancies. 22 (13.5%) pregnancies were complicated by hypertensive disorders. Heart failure developed in 11 women (9.0%), 37.5% in NYHA class III–IV and 6.5% in NYHA class I–II. Mean gestational age and birth weight were 270 days and 3196 g in NYHA class I–II compared to 237 days and 1972 g for NHYA class III–IV. There were two maternal deaths (1.6%) and 5 fetal deaths (3.1%). There were 29 (12.8%) preterm births, 20 (12.8%) neonates small for gestational age and 34 (21.8%) admittances on the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).ConclusionsPregnancy in women with pre-existing heart disease in all NYHA classes is associated with increased maternal morbidity and perinatal morbidity. Risk of structural fetal anomalies is especially high in women with congenital heart disease.     

妊娠合并心脏病伴肺动脉高压患者的妊娠结局

目的 探讨妊娠合并心脏病伴肺动脉高压患者的妊娠结局。方法 收集1996年1月至2004年8月间,我院产科收治的61例妊娠合并心脏病伴肺动脉高压患者的临床资料（其中先天性心脏病36例,风湿性心脏病21例,心律失常1例,原发性肺动脉高压性心脏病2例,系统性红斑狼疮性心脏病1例）,根据肺动脉压力情况分为轻度组32例[30-49mmHg（1mmHg=0．133kPa）],中度组23例（50～79mmHg）,重度组6例（t〉80mmHg）,分析各组心脏病种类、心功能级别、终止妊娠孕周和方式以及母儿结局。结果 （1）轻度组心功能Ⅰ-Ⅱ级者23例,中度组心功能Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ级的发病例数分别为9、5、5、4例,重度组心功能Ⅲ-Ⅳ级者5例。（2）风湿性心脏病患者中,中、重度肺动脉高压者11例,占52％（11／21）;发生严重心功能衰竭者9例,占43％（9／21）,先天性心脏病患者中,以轻、中度肺动脉高压者为主（97％,35／36）,且以心功能Ⅰ-Ⅱ级者为主（81％,29／36）。（3）轻度组足月妊娠24例,新生儿平均体重为2744g;中度组足月分娩11例,早产8例,医源性流产4例;重度组足月分娩1例,早产3例,医源性流产2例。各组围产儿疾病发生率比较,差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。（4）妊娠合并心脏病伴肺动脉高压者的分娩方式以刮宫产分娩为主,占79％（48／61）。（5）孕产妇死亡率为2％（1／61）,医源性胎儿丢失率为13％（8／61例）。结论 随着肺动脉压力的升高,孕妇心功能衰竭的发生率随之增加,围产儿疾病发生率和胎儿丢失率也明显增加;妊娠合并风湿性心脏病患者中、重度肺动脉高压的发生率高于先天性心脏病患者;手术终止妊娠是比较安全的分娩方式。     

Prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder in pregnant women with prior pregnancy complications

Objective. To assess the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in pregnant women with prior pregnancy complications.

Methods. Seventy-six pregnant women at a maternal–fetal medicine referral clinic were asked to complete an anonymous questionnaire. Fifty-six women had a prior pregnancy complication (study group), and the remaining 20 had none (comparison group). Subjects were assessed with a questionnaire consisting of a modified patient-rated version of the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS). The modified CAPS was used to approximate the prevalence of full or partial PTSD related to a prior pregnancy complication using two scoring rules, the rule-of-3 (original rule) and rule-of-4 (more stringent rule).

Results. The prevalence of full PTSD among women with prior pregnancy complications was 12.5% and 8.9% based on the rule-of-3 and rule-of-4, respectively. For partial PTSD, the prevalence was 28.6% based on the rule-of-3 versus 17.9% based on the rule-of-4. The most common type of complication was miscarriage, accounting for 73.5% of the reported complications. None of the women in the comparison group met criteria for full or partial PTSD.

Conclusions. The prevalence of PTSD in pregnant women with a prior pregnancy-related complication is considerable. These findings provide additional evidence that pregnancy complications can be experienced as traumatic, and as such lead to partial or full PTSD symptoms.     

Management of pregnancy complications in women of advanced maternal age

The average age of women at childbirth in high resource obstetric settings has been increasing steadily for approximately 30 years. Women aged 35 years or over have an increased risk of gestational hypertensive disease, gestational diabetes, placenta praevia, placental abruption, perinatal death, preterm labour, fetal macrosomia and fetal growth restriction. Unsurprisingly, rates of obstetric intervention are higher among older women. Of particular concern is the increased risk of antepartum stillbirth at term in women of advanced maternal age. In all maternal age groups, the risk of stillbirth is higher among nulliparous women than among multiparous women. Women of advanced maternal age (>40 years) should be given low dose aspirin in the presence of an additional risk factor for pre-eclampsia and offered serial ultrasounds for fetal growth and wellbeing. Given the increased risk of antepartum stillbirth, induction of labour from 39 weeks’ gestation should be discussed with woman.     

Late pregnancy complications can affect risk estimates of elective induction of labor

Objective.?Multiple observational studies have emphasized the increased risk of elective induction versus spontaneous labor. We estimated the risks of elective induction before 39 weeks compared to expectant management.

Methods.?Using a single institution's delivery data (1996–2004), we identified women with uncomplicated term gestations who underwent elective induction before 39 weeks (Early Induction Group). A comparison group of women eligible for elective induction before 39 weeks but who were managed expectantly was created by identifying the remaining deliveries ≥39 weeks and excluding women with “established” pregnancy complications such as diabetes or heart disease (Expectant Management Group), but retaining women with complications that may have developed while waiting, e.g. gestational hypertension or abruption.

Results.?Pregnancies in the Early Induction Group were generally not at increased risk for morbidity when compared to the entire Expectant Management Group, in whom 49% developed pregnancy complications or went postdates. These pregnancies had poorer maternal and neonatal outcomes when compared to patients who remained uncomplicated with spontaneous labor onset, thus reducing the overall benefit of expectant management.

Conclusions.?Failure to account for the large proportion of women who develop late pregnancy complications can falsely elevate the estimated risk of elective induction prior to 39 weeks.     

妊娠合并先天性心脏病伴肺动脉高压患者的围产结局分析

目的 探讨妊娠合并先天性心脏病（先心病）伴肺动脉高压患者的围产结局。方法 收集1995年4月至2007年5月温州医学院附属第一医院产科收治的45例妊娠合并先心病伴肺动脉高压患者的临床资料,根据肺动脉压力情况分为轻度组29例[30～49mmHg（1mmHg=0．133kPa）],中度组8例（50～79mmHg）,重度组8例（≥80mmHg）,分析各组先心病的种类、心功能级别、终止妊娠孕周和方式、先心病术后妊娠的安全性以及围产结局。结果 （1）先心病种类中以房间隔缺损、室间隔缺损为主,发生率为58％（26／45）。孕前行心脏矫正手术13例（29％,13／45）,以轻度肺动脉高压、心功能Ⅰ～Ⅱ级为主。（2）轻度组心功能Ⅰ～Ⅱ级者28例,中度组心功能Ⅰ～Ⅱ级者6例,重度组心功能Ⅲ～Ⅳ级者7例。（3）轻度组足月分娩27例、难免流产1例、早产1例,新生儿平均出生体重为（3153±399）g;中度组足月分娩5例,早产3例;重度组足月分娩5例,医源性终止妊娠1例,早产2例;中、重度组新生儿平均出生体重明显低于轻度组,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）,同时中、重度组胎儿结局不良。（4）妊娠合并先心病伴肺动脉高压患者的分娩方式以剖宫产分娩为主,占78％（35／45）,其中轻度组剖宫产分娩22例（22／29）,中度组6例（6／8）,重度组7例（7／8）。（5）45例患者中有11例于孕前或产后出现心功能衰竭早期表现或心功能衰竭,均分布在中、重度组,且心功能均为Ⅲ～Ⅳ级。其中2例死亡。结论 妊娠合并先心病伴肺动脉高压患者的肺动脉压力越高,围产结局越差;孕前行心脏矫正手术后的先心病患者以轻度肺动脉高压为主,且围产结局良好;以剖宫产术终止妊娠是比较安全的分娩方式。     

Pregnancy complications and delivery outcomes of pregnant women with influenza

Objectives.?In a previous study, we showed that maternal influenza in pregnancy gives rise to an increase in some congenital abnormality groups. The aim of this study was to ascertain the relationship between influenza during pregnancy and pregnancy complications, and in addition, delivery outcomes particularly preterm birth and low birth weight in newborns.

Methods.?The population-based large control (without any defects) data set of the Hungarian Case-Control Surveillance System of Congenital Abnormalities, in which pregnancy complications, gestational age and birth weight are medically recorded, was evaluated.

Results.?Of 38 151 newborn infants, 1838 (4.8%) had mothers with influenza during pregnancy. The prevalence of pregnancy complications showed no difference between mothers with or without influenza during the study pregnancy. Mothers with influenza in pregnancy had a somewhat higher gestational age (0.1 week) and a lower proportion of preterm births (8.0% vs. 9.2%). These findings were reflected in the mean birth weight (+37 g) and lower proportion of low birth weight newborns (4.7% vs. 5.1%); these differences were explained by confounders.

Conclusion.?Maternal influenza during pregnancy does not increase the prevalence of pregnancy complications and unsuccessful delivery outcomes.     

妊娠合并风湿性心脏病患者心功能状态对妊娠结局的影响

目的探讨妊娠合并风湿性心脏病患者心功能状态对妊娠结局的影响。方法对1993年1月至2006年7月在我院产科分娩的、资料齐全的65例妊娠合并风湿性心脏病患者的临床资料进行回顾性分析。根据患者的二尖瓣狭窄程度分为二尖瓣正常组20例（瓣口面积〉4．0cm^2）、轻度狭窄组11例（瓣口面积2．5—4．0cm^2）、中度狭窄组14例（瓣121面积1．5—2．5cm^2）以及重度狭窄组20例（瓣口面积〈1．5cm^2）;根据是否伴有肺动脉高压分为正常压力组33例[肺动脉压〈30mmHg（1mmHg=0．133kPa）]、轻度升高组18例（肺动脉压31—49mmHg）、中度升高组7例（肺动脉压50～79mmHg）和重度升高组7例（肺动脉压≥80mmHg）;根据孕前是否进行心脏手术分为心脏手术组14例和非心脏手术组51例;根据患者的不同心功能状态分为Ⅰ级组24例、Ⅱ级组13例、Ⅲ级组13例、Ⅳ级组15例,观察各组的围产儿结局。分析以上各种因素对妊娠合并风湿性心脏病患者妊娠结局的影响。结果（1）二尖瓣正常组患者心功能Ⅰ～Ⅱ级者为80％（16／20）,Ⅳ级组患者中,80％（12／15）在中度狭窄组（6例）及重度狭窄组（6例）,与二尖瓣正常组和轻度狭窄组的心功能Ⅳ级发生率（20％,3／15）比较,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。（2）正常压力组患者心功能Ⅰ～Ⅱ级者为73％（24／33）,重度升高组患者心功能Ⅳ级的发生率（6／7）明显高于心功能Ⅰ级的发生率（1／7）,两者比较,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。（3）心脏手术组患者心功能Ⅰ～Ⅱ级发生率为71％（10／14）,Ⅲ级和Ⅳ级的发生率均为14％（2／14）,前后两者比较,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）;非心脏手术组患者Ⅰ～Ⅳ级心功能发生率之间分别比较,差异均无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。（4）心功能Ⅰ～Ⅲ级组患者的平均孕周及新生儿平均出生体重分别比较,差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）;而心功能Ⅳ级组平均孕周为（34．6±3．1）周,新生儿平均出生体重为（2176±186）g,明显低于心功能Ⅰ级组,两组比较,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。心功能Ⅲ～Ⅳ级组患者中,共发生医源性流产和引产9例（14％,9／65）,医源性早产18例（28％,18／65）,胎儿生长受限4例（6％,4／65）,围产儿死亡3例（5％,3／65）;而心功能Ⅰ～Ⅱ级组患者以上指标均为0。（5）65例妊娠合并风湿性心脏病患者中合并心房纤颤者7例,其心功能Ⅲ～Ⅳ级（心功能衰竭）的发生率为6／7。结论妊娠合并风湿性心脏病患者伴中、重度二尖瓣狭窄、重度肺动脉压升高及心房纤颤,容易发生心功能衰竭危及生命,不宜妊娠。已妊娠者应尽早终止妊娠;心功能Ⅲ～Ⅳ级的妊娠合并风湿性心脏病患者的医源性流产、早产和围产儿病率均增加,围产儿结局不良。     

妊娠合并甲状腺功能减退症42例妊娠结局分析

目的探讨妊娠合并甲状腺功能减退症患者经过治疗后妊娠结局。方法回顾性分析42例妊娠合并甲状腺功能减退患者的临床资料,并分析其妊娠结局;终止妊娠前了解外周血促甲状腺素TSH水平,以TSH〈3.0uIU/ml作为治疗目标值并比较其妊娠结局。结果经过治疗后甲状腺功能减退孕妇的剖宫产率,产后出血率,新生儿窒息率与同期相比差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）,但甲状腺功能减退组孕妇的糖代谢异常风险（OR=4.000,95%CI0.779～20.531）、胎膜早破（OR=2.969,95%CI0.849～10.375）、羊水胎粪污染风险增加（OR=2.969,95%CI0.849～10.375）;以TSH〈3.0uIU/ml做为治疗目标值比较,两组妊娠结局差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）。结论对于妊娠合并甲状腺功能减退患者及时给予足量甲状腺素补充治疗,可有效地降低不良妊娠结局。晚孕期甲状腺素替代治疗,TSH目标值有待于临床扩大样本量后进一步探讨。     

妊娠合并心脏病的筛查和管理

妊娠合并心脏病是目前导致孕产妇死亡的主要原因之一,因此在孕前和孕期保健期间,医务人员应严密关注孕产妇的心脏健康状况。对孕产妇严格地进行心脏病筛查并规范管理,对于降低心脏病孕产妇死亡率具有至关重要的作用。因为妊娠期和产褥期心脏病孕产妇的病理生理学特点,所以其与普通心脏病患者的血流动力学有明显的区别,筛查和管理也与一般的孕产妇和心脏病妇女不同,应强调预防在先和多学科合作的综合管理。