Abstract

Introduction: Pregnancy is contraindicated in women with pulmonary hypertension (PH), yet many still decide to pursue pregnancy. Hypothesis: We hypothesized improved maternal mortality with PH at our center’s cardio-obstetrics program and sought to identify factors to estimate the risk of major adverse cardiac events (MACE). Methods: Pregnant women with right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) ≥35 mmHg or tricuspid regurgitant velocity > 2.8 m/s on transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) were identified. Women with intermediate to high probability PH by ESC criteria (TTE or catheterization, n = 70) were classified using the 6 th World Society of PH definitions. Results: In 70 women with PH (30 ± 6 years-old, RVSP 52 ± 16 mmHg) there were 12 (17%) with WHO Group 1 PH, 45 (64%) with Group 2 PH, 4 (6%) with Group 3 PH and 9 (13%) with Group 5 PH (Figure A). Baseline characteristics were similar except: Group 1 PH had 83% on prostacyclin (PC) therapy, higher RVSP (78 ± 20 mmHg vs. Groups 2 (46 ± 9), 3 (44 ± 2 mmHg) and 5 PH (48 ± 10mmHg), p<0.01), and compared to Group 2 PH, more Group 1 PH women were diagnosed pre-pregnancy (9 (75%) vs. 12 (27%), p = 0.01) and had cardio-obstetrics care (10 (83%) vs. 16 (36%), p < 0.01) (Figure B - E). There were no peripartum deaths, however 3 (4.3%) women with Group 2 PH had late mortality (7 ± 4 months post-partum). MACE occurred in 24 (34%) women and was more likely in those with: NYHA FC ≥ 2 (95% CI 4.7-57, p < 0.01), pre-eclampsia (95% CI 1.2-13, p = 0.03), RVSP >50 mmHg (95% CI 1.3-10, p = 0.02) and LVEF <50% (95% CI 1.1-8.8, p = 0.04) (Figure F). Preterm birth occurred in 32 (49%) pregnancies, with no neonatal mortality. Conclusion: To conclude, in a large single center cohort we report 100% 1-year survival in Groups 1, 3, and 5 PH, with most Group 1 PH patients on PC therapy and under cardio-obstetrics care. We identify Group 2 PH as an under-recognized group for adverse outcomes in pregnancy, with NYHA FC, pre-eclampsia, RVSP >50 mmHg and LVEF <50% associated with increased MACE.

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