Pregnancy in women with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy/dysplasia

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy/dysplasia (ARVC/D) is a cardiac disease characterised by myocardial necrosis followed by fibro-fatty substitution leading to the onset of ventricular arrhythmias. The aim of the present study was to analyse pregnancy in women affected by this condition.

Six women affected by ARVC/D who underwent a pregnancy were studied with a follow-up programme, consisting of 12-lead ECG, signal-averaged ECG, 24-h ECG and two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiogram performed before the beginning of the pregnancy, at 3rd and 7th month of gestation and after the delivery.

All women were on antiarrhythmic therapy during pregnancy; two complained of palpitations in the last 3 months. Delivery was performed at full terms in all, with caesarean section and epidural anaesthesia in four. Mean weight at birth was 3490g. No adverse reactions on the newborns were detected. All patients were advised against breast-feeding. No significant morphological changes were detected. During the period following the delivery (1-6years, mean 2,6years) one subject experienced a sustained ventricular tachycardia.

Pregnancy seems to be well tolerated in patients affected by ARVC/D, but a programmed clinical protocol is mandatory particularly in the last trimester and puerperium, due to increased risk of ventricular arrhythmias.