[Pregnancy after cardiac valve replacement: analysis of 21 cases]

A retrospective analysis of 21 cases with 23 pregnancies after cardiac valve replacement from August 1979 to March 1992. In 11 cases mechanical and in 10 biological valves were used, and in 18 cases with mitral valve replacement was done (MVR), in 1 case aortic valve replacement (AVR) and in 2 cases, both MVR and AVR were carried out 22 pregnancies in 20 cases with cardiac function grading I and II (New York Heart Association, NYHA) before pregnancy resulted in normal term deliveries and 1 case with grading III prior to pregnancy died of heart failure in the third trimester. All the cases treated with mechanical valve replacement received warfarin derivatives throughout pregnancy, and no malformation was found in their neonates. Issues related to pregnancy after cardiac valve replacement were discussed.