Perinatal outcomes in pregnant women with pulmonary hypertension and concurrent congestive heart failure

Abstract

Objective To discuss the effect of the occurrence of congestive heart failure on the outcome of pregnant women with pulmonary hypertension. Methods Fifty-four pregnant patients complicated with pulmonary hypertension were admitted from January 2000 through December 2010. Among them, 34 had comorbidity of congestive heart failure. The timing and mode of pregnancy termination, and perinatal outcomes were studied, and comparison was made between those with and without heart failure. Results ① Of all 54 pregnant women with pulmonary hypertension, 34 had congestive heart failure. The incidences of congestive heart failure in patients with mild, moderate and severe degree of pulmonary hypertension were 27.78% (5/18), 73.33% (11/15) and 85.71% (18/21), respectively (P<0.05).②The rate of maternal complications was 47.06% (16/34) and maternal mortality was 17.65% (6/34) in the patients with combined pulmonary hypertension and heart failure. The rate of iatrogenic fetal loss was 29.41% ( 10/34) , preterm labor 52.94% (18/34), neonatal asphyxia 35.29% (12/34) and neonatal mortality 23.53% (8/34) in case of patients with pulmonary hypertension complicated with congestive heart failure. ③The rate of Cesarean section was 91. 18% (31/34) in the patients with combined pulmonary hypertension and heart failure. ④ The rates of iatrogenic induction, premature delivery, maternal complications and mortality, neonatal asphyxia and fetal or neonatal fatality were significantly higher in women with combined pulmonary hypertension and heart failure than those with simple pulmonary hypertension ( P < 0. 05). Conclusions The risk of heart failure increases with the severity of pulmonary hypertension. The occurrence of heart failure is the most important factor affecting the outcome of patients in pregnancy already complicated with pulmonary hypertension , and Cesarean section is the safer mode of termination of pregnancy in this cohort of women. Key words: Pregnancy complications; Pulmonary arterial hypertension; Heart failure; Perinatal outcomes