BACKGROUND: Pregnancy is contraindicated in cases of pulmonary hypertension, a highly morbid disease affecting young women of childbearing age. CASES: We describe the pregnancies of 3 patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (idiopathic, Eisenmenger syndrome, and related to systemic lupus erythematosus). They received epoprostenol and low-molecular-weight heparin throughout pregnancy. The patient with Eisenmenger syndrome started epoprostenol in gestational week 16. Cesarean delivery under general anesthesia was performed at 28-33 weeks of gestation; early delivery was necessary in the patient with Eisenmenger syndrome because of fetal growth restriction. All deliveries were uneventful, and birth weights were 1,700, 1,500, and 795 g. There were no postpartum complications. CONCLUSION: Pregnancy in women with pulmonary hypertension should still be considered high risk for both mother and child, but stable patients on epoprostenol may successfully complete pregnancy.
BACKGROUND: Pregnancy is contraindicated in cases of pulmonary hypertension, a highly morbid disease affecting young women of childbearing age. CASES: We describe the pregnancies of 3 patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (idiopathic, Eisenmenger syndrome, and related to systemic lupus erythematosus). They received epoprostenol and low-molecular-weight heparin throughout pregnancy. The patient with Eisenmenger syndrome started epoprostenol in gestational week 16. Cesarean delivery under general anesthesia was performed at 28-33 weeks of gestation; early delivery was necessary in the patient with Eisenmenger syndrome because of fetal growth restriction. All deliveries were uneventful, and birth weights were 1,700, 1,500, and 795 g. There were no postpartum complications. CONCLUSION: Pregnancy in women with pulmonary hypertension should still be considered high risk for both mother and child, but stable patients on epoprostenol may successfully complete pregnancy.
Authors: Cuoghi Edens; Bruna Costa Rodrigues; Marcela Ignacchiti Lacerda; Flavia Cunha Dos Santos; Guilherme R De Jesús; Nilson Ramires De Jesús; Roger A Levy; Cianna Leatherwood; Jess Mandel; Bonnie Bermas Journal: Rheumatology (Oxford) Date: 2018-07-01 Impact factor: 7.580
Authors: Alexander G Duarte; Shibu Thomas; Zeenat Safdar; Fernando Torres; Luis D Pacheco; Jeremy Feldman; Bennet deBoisblanc Journal: Chest Date: 2013-05 Impact factor: 9.410
Authors: Anna R Hemnes; David G Kiely; Barbara A Cockrill; Zeenat Safdar; Victoria J Wilson; Manal Al Hazmi; Ioana R Preston; Mandy R MacLean; Tim Lahm Journal: Pulm Circ Date: 2015-09 Impact factor: 3.017