Background: Peripartum cardiomyopathy is associated with significant risks of decline in left ventricular function and adverse maternal and foetal outcome in subsequent pregnancies. The risks of pregnancy in women with pre-existing dilated cardiomyopathy are less well defined. We aimed to assess the outcome of pregnancies in women with dilated cardiomyopathy seen at our tertiary institution for maternal medicine in Queensland, Australia.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective audit of medical records and transthoracic echocardiography images reviewing the outcomes of 14 pregnancies to 12 women with dilated cardiomyopathy.
Results: There were no cardiac events in the pregnancy women during pregnancy and no decline in left ventricular function during pregnancy was observed. There was a high rate of prematurity and subsequent adverse foetal outcome, including 4 neonatal deaths.
Conclusion: Maternal outcomes in this small series were satisfactory though only three women had moderate-severe left ventricular dysfunction as defined by echocardiography at baseline. There was a high rate of premature delivery and adverse neonatal outcome associated with this.