Management and outcome of acute and recurrent pericarditis during pregnancy

Abstract

Abstract Background Pericarditis in pregnancy is uncommon. Treatment options, including NSAIDs and long term gluco-corticosteroids (CS) have extensive side-effects, while data on the use of Colchicine in pregnant women who suffer from pericarditis is limited. Objective To evaluate the management and outcome of active pericarditis during pregnancy in both acute (AP) and recurrent pericarditis (RP) patients. Methods and results Twelve pregnant women (14 pregnancies) with active pericarditis were followed prospectively in our cardiology-pregnancy clinic; 6 with AP and 8 with RP. Etiology: 11 idiopathic, 2 post-pericardiotomy syndrome and 1 Q fever. Maternal age on presentation was 27±4y vs. 33±3y in RP vs AP respectively. Average gestational age upon diagnosis was lower in RP than in AP (18 weeks, range 6–30 vs 26 weeks, range 5–35). In the RP group, 7/8 women (87%) were treated with CS compared with 2/6 women (33%) in the AP group; 3 women in RP group (37%) failed to respond to subsequent treatment with azathioprine and 1 patient was treated successfully with Anakinra. Colchicine was prescribed in 13/14 (93%) of pregnancies, average colchicine exposure during pregnancy was 25±15 weeks. Recurrence during pregnancy: 6/8 (75%) of RP; 2/6 (33%) of the AP, all of them on CS. All pregnancies culminated in a live birth with a mean gestational age on delivery of 37±1.4 weeks. Average birthweight was 3267±507 grams. There were no fetal anomalies or developmental delays after a mean follow-up of 2.7 years. All newborns and maternal outcomes were normal. On long term follow-up after delivery RP patients treated with colchicine developed less recurrences. Conclusion Active pericarditis is associated with a high recurrence rate during pregnancy despite treatment with CS. Colchicine use in pregnant women with active pericarditis appears to be safe. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None