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Full-root Aortic Valve Replacement by Stentless Aortic Xenografts in Patients with Small Aortic Roots
Published on: May 21, 2017
Pregnancy does not accelerate biological valve degeneration
Julie Cleuziou1, Jürgen Hörer, Harald Kaemmerer
1Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, German Heart Center Munich, Technische Universität München, Germany. cleuziou@dhm.mhn.de
International Journal of Cardiology
|July 8, 2010
Summary
Pregnancy in women with biological heart valve prostheses is safe and does not accelerate the need for valve replacement. This study found no increased risk of valve re-replacement or complications during pregnancy for these patients.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Reproductive Medicine
- Biomaterials Science
Background:
- Women with biological heart valve prostheses may face accelerated degeneration.
- Pregnancy poses potential risks to the longevity of these devices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the rate of prosthesis replacement in women with biological heart valve prostheses.
- To evaluate the outcomes of pregnancies in this patient group.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 100 female patients (aged 18-40) who underwent valve replacement with bioprosthesis or homograft between 1976-2006.
- Follow-up evaluation of 87 patients via questionnaire at a mean interval of 10.8 years.
Main Results:
- 33 patients (38%) experienced 56 pregnancies with a 77% live-birth rate; no maternal deaths or thromboembolic events occurred.
- No structural valve deterioration was observed during pregnancy.
- 31 patients (36%) required re-replacement, with neither pregnancy nor valve type being a risk factor.
Conclusions:
- Pregnancy does not accelerate the risk of biological heart valve prosthesis replacement.
- Pregnancy can be safely undertaken in women with biological heart valves without increased valve-related morbidity.
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