Original Research

Fertility, Pregnancy and Delivery in Women after Biventricular Repair for Double Outlet Right Ventricle
Willem Drenthen^a, Petronella G. Pieper^a, Karin van der Tuuk^b, Jolien W. Roos-Hesselink^d, Elke S. Hoendermis^a, Adriaan A. Voors^a, Barbara J.M. Mulder^e, Arie P.J. van Dijk^f, Sing C. Yap^d, Hubert W. Vliegen^g, Philip Moons^h, Tjark Ebels^c, Dirk J. van Veldhuisen^a, on behalf of the ZAHARA investigators

Departments of
^aCardiology,
^bObstetrics and Gynaecology and
^cThoracic Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen,
^dDepartment of Cardiology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam,
^eDepartment of Cardiology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam,
^fDepartment of Cardiology, St. Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, and
^gDepartment of Cardiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands;
^hDepartment of Cardiology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

Address of Corresponding Author

Cardiology 2008;109:105-109 (DOI: 10.1159/000105550)

  Key Words

• Congenital heart disease
• Pregnancy
• Complications

  Abstract

Objectives: To investigate outcome of pregnancy and fertility in women with double outlet right ventricle (DORV). Methods: Using 2 congenital heart disease registries, 21 female patients with DORV (aged 18-39 years) were retrospectively identified. Detailed recordings of each patient and their completed (>20 weeks gestation) pregnancies were recorded. Results: Overall, 10 patients had 19 pregnancies, including 3 spontaneous miscarriages (16%). During the 16 live birth pregnancies, primarily (serious) noncardiac complications were observed, e.g. premature labor/delivery (n = 7 and n = 3, respectively), small for gestational age (n = 4), preeclampsia (n = 2) and recurrence of congenital heart disease (n = 2). Except for postpartum endocarditis and deterioration of subpulmonary obstruction, only mild cardiac complication pregnancies were recorded. Two women with children reported secondary female infertility. Several menstrual cycle disorders were reported: secondary amenorrhea (n = 4), primary amenorrhea (n = 3) and oligomenorrhea (n = 2). Conclusion: Successful pregnancy in women with DORV is possible. Primarily noncardiac complications were observed and only few (minor) cardiac complications. Infertility and menstrual cycle disorders appear to be more prevalent.

Copyright © 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

W. Drenthen
Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Groningen
PO Box 30.001
NL-9700 RB Groningen (The Netherlands)
Tel. +31 50 361 0248, Fax +31 50 361 4391, E-Mail w.drenthen@thorax.umcg.nl

  Article Information

Received: September 21, 2006
Accepted after revision: November 29, 2006
Published online: August 14, 2007
Number of Print Pages : 5
Number of Figures : 0, Number of Tables : 2, Number of References : 11