Pulmonary hypertension, cardiac disease and pregnancy

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain the significance of coexisting pulmonary hypertension in cardiac disease in pregnancy.

METHODS: Over a 3-year period a group of pregnant women with cardiac disease was followed until 6 weeks postpartum. Twenty women with pulmonary hypertension were compared with 20 controls without pulmonary hypertension with particular reference to maternal and fetal outcome. Analysis of data was carried out using Fisher's exact test and Student's t-test.

RESULTS: Except for Eisenmenger's syndrome, there were no differences in maternal morbidity and mortality between the two groups. There were more low birth weight babies but no significant differences in premature delivery rate, mode of delivery or perinatal mortality.

CONCLUSION: Except for Eisenmenger's syndrome, coexisting pulmonary hypertension complicating cardiac disease in pregnancy generally has a favorable outcome for both mother and fetus.