To study the maternal and neonatal outcomes of pregnancies complicated by rheumatic heart disease (RHD).

A retrospective study was carried out in the obstetric and cardiology outpatients department of Sir Sunder Lal Hospital, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India over a period of 1 year (Dec 2011-2012) involving 96 pregnant patients with rheumatic heart disease. Their maternal and fetal outcomes were reviewed.

A total of 96 pregnant mothers with heart disease presented to us during the period of 1 year (Dec 2011-2012). Majority of the pregnant mothers had mitral stenosis n = 46 (47%). Rest of the patients had multivalve disease. Pulmonary arterial hypertension was found to be in 28 patients (29%). Atrial thrombus was seen in the echocardiography of one patient. Mitral valve replacement was done before pregnancy in 16 mothers (16%); these gravid mothers were put on low-molecular weight hepanin (LMWH) and during the midtrimester on the Acitrom. There was one patient admitted with atrial fibrillation. New York Heart Association (NYHA) class I and II heart disease progressed in two patients to class III and IV. There was no maternal or fetal mortality in this study. There were 24 cesarean sections (25%) done out of which 8 were for intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) (32%), rest were due to maternal reasons. There were 12 preterm deliveries. Four fetuses had intraventricular hemorrhage.

Despite no maternal and neonatal mortality, pregnancy in women with heart disease is associated with significant maternal and neonatal morbidities.

Pandey U. To Study the Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes of Pregnancies complicated by Rheumatic Heart Disease. Int J Infertil Fetal Med 2014;5(3):92-94.