[Effect of heart diseases on premature labor]

The connection between the different heart diseases and premature births was studied. The incidence of premature births was more frequently in heart cases, while fetal retardation was similar to that of the control with exception of the group of the patients with acquired and operated heart diseases. Perinatal fetal mortality during birth was similar to the normal cases but higher in fetal retardation as in the general population of the pregnant women. In a worse condition of heart function the rates of premature birth, perinatal mortality and fetal retardation are more frequent than in a better circulatory state.--The contradiction found in the literature on this theme may have its cause that the effect of heart diseases affecting premature birth were not considered in its functional severity.