Management of cardiovascular diseases during pregnancy

Cardiovascular disease in pregnancy and its outcome: A prospective study

Introduction

Prevalence estimates place maternal heart illness anywhere from 0.3 to 3.5 percent. Up to 20.5% of all maternal deaths of non-obstetrical cause are attributable to cardiovascular disease.

Aim

The aim of the study was the management of patients with the multidisciplinary approach to maternal cardiovascular disease and its influence on maternal and fetal outcomes in a tertiary care centre.

Objectives

1. To find out the prevalence and spectrum of heart disease in Pregnancy. 2. To find out the outcome of pregnancy with heart disease in a tertiary care centre.

Materials and Methods

This prospective study of one year was done on pregnant with heart disease coming to the Obstetrics and Gynaecology department in collaboration with the cardiology department of IGIMS, Patna. A study was done on 65 pregnant with heart disease between the age group 20 to 35 years were compared to a control group of 65 pregnant women who were hospitalised during the same time period but did not have heart disease. All the pregnant women with heart disease were included in this study. Patients with medical disorders like Kidney disease, Liver disease, Pulmonary Disease, Diabetes Mellitus were excluded from the study. We used IBM's SPSS v23 to analyse the collected data.

Result

Prevalence of heart disease in pregnancy was 5.8% in present study and mostly of RHD (62.5%), followed by corrected CHD (12.5%) and CHD (10.9%). Patients of NYHA Class I and II (58.5%), Class III (26.2%), and Class IV (15.4%). The mitral valve was most often impacted by RHD (35.3% of all cases), followed by the tricuspid valve (15.0%). Eight (1.1%) people had cardiac surgery for therapeutic reasons. Six percent of all corrective surgeries included closing an atrial septal defect (ASD). The most common kind of congenital abnormality was a ventricular septal defect (VSD, 3%), followed by atrial septal defect (ASD, 1.5%) and pulmonary ductal atresia (PDA, 1.5%). Patients with heart disease had a higher rate of MTP, emergency LSCS and instrumental births than the controls. Deaths during pregnancy were 4 (6.2%) with cardiac disease and no maternal mortality in control group and all belonged to NYHA Class 4 were anaemic. In patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction of 45% or below, death was high. Two women died intrapartum from RHD, and two died postpartum from Peripartum cardiomyopathy. There were significantly more incidences of low-birth-weight infants (36.4%) compared to the control group (p = 0.001). Cases had a statistically significant greater frequency of obstetric problems, as well as an increased risk of developing anaemia, hypertension, hypothyroidism, cholestasis, FGR, and GDM (p-value 0.017). Multiparity, severe valvular lesion, NYHA function class III or IV, arrhythmia, and low ejection fraction were associated with poor maternal outcome in the current study.

Conclusion

Maternal morbidity and mortality due to heart disease can be reduced appreciably by antenatal care, early diagnosis, and management with the help of cardiologists and surgery in selected cases.

Contribution of estrogen to the pregnancy-induced increase in cardiac automaticity

BACKGROUND

The heart rate progressively increases throughout pregnancy, reaching a maximum in the third trimester. This elevated heart rate is also present in pregnant mice and is associated with accelerated automaticity, higher density of the pacemaker current I_f and changes in Ca²⁺ homeostasis in sinoatrial node (SAN) cells. Strong evidence has also been provided showing that 17β-estradiol (E₂) and estrogen receptor α (ERα) regulate heart rate. Accordingly, we sought to determine whether E₂ levels found in late pregnancy cause the increased cardiac automaticity associated with pregnancy.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Voltage- and current-clamp experiments were carried out on SAN cells isolated from female mice lacking estrogen receptor alpha (ERKOα) or beta (ERKOβ) receiving chronic E₂ treatment mimicking late pregnancy concentrations. E₂ treatment significantly increased the action potential rate (284 ± 24 bpm, +E₂ 354 ± 23 bpm, p = 0.040) and the density of I_f (+52%) in SAN cells from ERKOβ mice. However, I_f density remains unchanged in SAN cells from E₂-treated ERKOα mice. Additionally, E₂ also increased I_f density (+67%) in nodal-like human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (N-hiPSC-CM), recapitulating in a human SAN cell model the effect produced in mice. However, the L-type calcium current (I_CaL) and Ca²⁺ transients, examined using N-hiPSC-CM and SAN cells respectively, were not affected by E₂, indicating that other mechanisms contribute to changes observed in these parameters during pregnancy.

CONCLUSION

The accelerated SAN automaticity observed in E₂-treated ERKOβ mice is explained by an increased I_f density mediated by ERα, demonstrating that E₂ plays a major role in regulating SAN function during pregnancy.

Creating a Multidisciplinary Pregnancy Heart Team

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of maternal death and cases of cardiovascular death are often associated with failure to provide timely risk-appropriate care. This review outlines considerations for creation of a team focused on the care of women with CVD during pregnancy and beyond.

RECENT FINDINGS

Improved outcomes for women with complex medical or obstetric conditions managed by a multidisciplinary care team inspired national guidelines advising the creation of a Pregnancy Heart Team for women with CVD in pregnancy. The recommendations from the European Society of Cardiology provide general guidance for risk-appropriate care without elaborating on the details of these specialized care teams. A Pregnancy Heart Team led by providers from cardiology, maternal-fetal medicine, obstetrics, obstetric anesthesia, pharmacy, and nursing support a holistic approach to patient care while facilitating opportunities for cross-disciplinary education. This team should focus on frequent antepartum risk stratification, multidisciplinary delivery planning, and comprehensive preconception and postpartum care. Available evidence suggests that a consistent and integrated approach to care for women with CVD in pregnancy has the potential to decrease severe maternal morbidity and mortality. The cost-effectiveness of this approach and the impact of this comprehensive care model on a woman's long-term cardiovascular health warrant future study.

Planned vaginal delivery and cardiovascular morbidity in pregnant women with heart disease

BACKGROUND

Although consensus guidelines on the management of cardiovascular disease in pregnancy reserve cesarean delivery for obstetric indications, there is a paucity of data to support this approach.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the study was to compare cardiovascular and obstetric morbidity in women with cardiovascular disease according to the plan for vaginal birth or cesarean delivery.

STUDY DESIGN

We assembled a prospective cohort of women delivering at an academic tertiary care center with a protocolized multidisciplinary approach to management of cardiovascular disease between September 2011 and December 2016. Our practice is to encourage vaginal birth in women with cardiovascular disease unless there is an obstetric indication for cesarean delivery. We allow women attempting vaginal birth a trial of Valsalva in the second stage with the ability to provide operative vaginal delivery if pushing leads to changes in hemodynamics or symptoms. Women were classified according to planned mode of delivery: either vaginal birth or cesarean delivery. We then used univariate analysis to compare adverse outcomes according to planned mode of delivery. The primary composite cardiac outcome of interest included sustained arrhythmia, heart failure, cardiac arrest, cerebral vascular accident, need for cardiac surgery or intervention, or death. Secondary obstetric and neonatal outcomes were also considered.

RESULTS

We included 276 consenting women with congenital heart disease (68.5%), arrhythmias (11.2%), connective tissue disease (9.1%), cardiomyopathy (8.0%), valvular disease (1.4%), or vascular heart disease (1.8%) at or beyond 24 weeks' gestation. Seventy-six percent (n = 210) planned vaginal birth and 24% (n = 66) planned cesarean delivery. Women planning vaginal birth had lower rates of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, multiparity, and preterm delivery. All women attempting vaginal birth were allowed Valsalva. Among planned vaginal deliveries 86.2% (n = 181) were successful, with a 9.5% operative vaginal delivery rate. Five women underwent operative vaginal delivery for the indication of cardiovascular disease without another obstetric indication at the discretion of the delivering provider. Four of these patients tolerated trials of Valsalva ranging from 15 to 75 minutes prior to delivery. Adverse cardiac outcomes were similar between planned vaginal birth and cesarean delivery groups (4.3% vs 3.0%, P = 1.00). Rates of postpartum hemorrhage (1.9% vs 10.6%, P < .01) and transfusion (1.9% vs 9.1%, P = .01) were lower in the planned vaginal birth group. There were no differences in adverse cardiac, obstetric, or neonatal outcomes in the cohort overall or the subset of women with high-risk cardiovascular disease or a high burden of obstetric comorbidity.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that cesarean delivery does not reduce adverse cardiovascular outcomes and lend support to a planned vaginal birth for the majority of women with cardiovascular disease including those with high-risk disease.

Management of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Obstetric Patients: Concerns for Critical Care Nurses

Critical care nurses are faced with many challenges, and one that is particularly stressful is caring for obstetric patients. This care can become more complex when the obstetric patient requires extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. It is imperative that critical care nurses have knowledge about this unique population, the expected physical changes of pregnancy, and the management of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Obstetric patients present unique challenges, and care is focused on the woman and her family. The purpose of this paper is to provide information for critical care nurses regarding care of obstetric patients who receive extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Beta-blocker subtypes and risk of low birth weight in newborns

Beta-blockers are one of the most commonly prescribed classes of antihypertensive medications during pregnancy. Previous studies reported an association between beta-blocker exposure and intrauterine growth restriction. Whether some beta-blocker subtypes may be associated with higher risk is not known. This is a retrospective cohort study of pregnant women exposed to beta-blockers in the Kaiser Permanente Southern California Region between 2003 and 2014. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate association between exposure to different beta-blocker agents and risk of low fetal birth weights. In a cohort of 379 238 singleton pregnancies, 4847 (1.3%) were exposed to beta-blockers. The four most commonly prescribed beta-blockers were labetalol (n = 3357), atenolol (n = 638), propranolol (n = 489), and metoprolol (n = 324). Mean birth weight and % low birth weight (<2500 g) were 2926 ± 841 g and 24.4% for labetalol, 3058 ± 748 g and 18.0% for atenolol, 3163 ± 702 g and 13.3% for metoprolol, 3286 ± 651 g and 7.6% for propranolol, and 3353 ± 554 g and 5.2% for non-exposed controls. Exposure to atenolol and labetalol were associated with increased risks of infant born small for gestational age (SGA) (atenolol: adjusted OR 2.4, 95% CI: 1.7-3.3; labetalol: adjusted OR 2.9, 95% CI: 2.6-3.2). Risk of SGA associated with metoprolol or propranolol exposure was not significantly different from the non-exposed group (metoprolol: adjusted OR 1.5, 95% CI: 0.9-2.3; propranolol: adjusted OR 1.3, 95% CI: 0.9-1.9). Association between beta-blocker exposure and SGA does not appear to be a class effect. Variations in pharmacodynamics and confounding by indication may explain these findings.

Imaging of Cardiovascular Disease in Pregnancy and the Peripartum Period

OPINION STATEMENT

Cardiovascular disease is an important cause of morbidity and mortality during pregnancy and the postpartum period. During pregnancy, the cardiovascular system undergoes extensive hemodynamic, hormonal, and microstructural changes which may exacerbate a preexisting underlying cardiovascular condition or predispose to cardiovascular complications not typically seen in young healthy women. Such conditions include spontaneous coronary artery dissection, atherosclerotic coronary artery disease, and peripartum cardiomyopathy. When evaluating this patient population, the diagnostic strategy should be tailored to specifically assess this distinct disease spectrum. The choice of imaging techniques must also consider potential risks to both the mother and child; a unique challenge of diagnostic imaging during pregnancy. The risk of radiation from radiography, computed tomography, and nuclear medicine imaging; iodinated and gadolinium-based contrast media for computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging respectively; and heat deposition from sonography are of special importance during pregnancy. A thorough understanding of pregnancy-specific cardiovascular complications and the capabilities and risks of available diagnostic imaging modalities is crucial to appropriately manage the pregnant patient.

Organisation of care for pregnancy in patients with congenital heart disease

Improvements in surgery have resulted in more women with repaired congenital heart disease (CHD) surviving to adulthood. Women with CHD, who wish to embark on pregnancy require prepregnancy counselling. This consultation should cover several issues such as the long-term prognosis of the mother, fertility and miscarriage rates, recurrence risk of CHD in the baby, drug therapy during pregnancy, estimated maternal risk and outcome, expected fetal outcomes and plans for pregnancy. Prenatal genetic testing is available for those patients with an identified genetic defect using pregestational diagnosis or prenatal diagnosis chorionic villus sampling or amniocentesis. Centralisation of care is needed for high-risk patients. Finally, currently there are no recommendations addressing the issue of the delivery. It is crucial that a dedicated plan for delivery should be available for all cardiac patients. The maternal mortality in low-income to middle-income countries is 14 times higher than in high-income countries and needs additional aspects and dedicated care.

Qualidade de vida de cardiopatas durante a gestação e após o parto

Resumo Objetivo Analisar as mudanças na qualidade de vida em pacientes cardiopatas durante a gestação e após o parto, e estudar as correlações das características sociodemográficas e clínicas com medidas de qualidade de vida no puerpério. Métodos Estudo prospectivo que incluiu 33 gestantes selecionadas por amostra não probabilística. O instrumento de pesquisa foi o questionário SF-36. Para a comparação das médias dos escores dos domínios do SF-36 foi utilizado o test t de Student e o coeficiente de Spearman para possíveis correlações. Resultados Comparada à gestação, houve melhora na avaliação de qualidade de vida após o parto, exceto nos domínios estado geral de saúde e vitalidade. A variável planejamento da gestação indicou correlação positiva com o domínio saúde mental e negativa com aspectos emocionais no puerpério. Conclusão Após o parto houve melhora na qualidade de vida. Não planejar a gestação contribuiu melhorou a saúde mental, mas agravou os aspectos emocionais no puerpério.

Valvular heart disease in pregnancy

Valvular heart disease may be a pre-existing complication of pregnancy or it may be diagnosed for the first time during pregnancy. Accurate diagnosis, tailored therapy and an understanding of the physiology and pathophysiology of pregnancy are necessary components of management, best achieved through the use of multidisciplinary clinics. This review outlines the management of specific lesions, with particular reference to post-rheumatic valvular heart disease.

Abnormal uterine artery remodelling in the stroke prone spontaneously hypertensive rat

INTRODUCTION

The stroke prone spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHRSP) is an established model of human cardiovascular risk. We sought to characterise the uteroplacental vascular response to pregnancy in this model and determine whether this is affected by the pre-existing maternal hypertension.

METHODS

Doppler ultrasound and myography were utilised to assess uterine artery functional and structural changes pre-pregnancy and at gestational day 18 in SHRSP (untreated and nifedipine treated) and in the normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rat. Maternal adaptations to pregnancy were also assessed along with histology and expression of genes involved in oxidative stress in the placenta.

RESULTS

SHRSP uterine arteries had a pulsatile blood flow and were significantly smaller (70906 ± 3903 μm(2) vs. 95656 ± 8524 μm(2) cross-sectional area; p < 0.01), had a significant increase in contractile response (57.3 ± 10.5 kPa vs 27.7 ± 1.9 kPa; p < 0.01) and exhibited impaired endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation (58.0 ± 5.9% vs 13.9 ± 4.6%; p < 0.01) compared to WKY. Despite significant blood pressure lowering, nifedipine did not improve uterine artery remodelling, function or blood flow in SHRSP. Maternal plasma sFLT-1/PlGF ratio (5.3 ± 0.3 vs 4.6 ± 0.1; p < 0.01) and the urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (1.9 ± 0.2 vs 0.6 ± 0.1; p < 0.01) was increased in SHRSP vs WKY. The SHRSP placenta had a significant reduction in glycogen cell content and an increase in Hif1α, Sod1 and Vegf.

DISCUSSION

We conclude that the SHRSP exhibits a number of promising characteristics as a model of spontaneous deficient uteroplacental remodelling that adversely affect pregnancy outcome, independent of pre-existing hypertension.