Pregnancy in 20 patients with bioprosthetic valve replacement

We studied twenty women who became pregnant after porcine bioprosthetic valve replacement. Six patients had aortic valve, seven mitral, and seven aortic plus mitral valve replacement. All women were treated with aspirin (1 g daily or 500 mg every 48 hours) during pregnancy, delivery, and the postdelivery period. Thirteen patients experienced atrial fibrillation. There were 27 pregnancies with three ending in abortion. Twenty five normal babies were delivered. There was no maternal mortality or morbidity from thromboembolism or hemorrhage. Comparison of the pregnancy course of these women and the general population shows no difference with respect to fetal or maternal morbidity and mortality. Pregnant women with bioprosthetic valve replacement treated with aspirin had normal pregnancies without the risk of thromboembolism. Fetal and perinatal morbidity and mortality was also within normal limits.