Cited 237 times since 2007 (14 per year) source: EuropePMC Journal of the American College of Cardiology, Volume 49, Issue 24, 4 1 2007, Pages 2303-2311 Outcome of pregnancy in women with congenital heart disease: a literature review. Drenthen W, Pieper PG, Roos-Hesselink JW, van Lottum WA, Voors AA, Mulder BJ, van Dijk AP, Vliegen HW, Yap SC, Moons P, Ebels T, van Veldhuisen DJ, ZAHARA Investigators
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.
