Pregnancy in women with a cardiomyopathy: Outcomes and predictors from a retrospective cohort

Summary Background Pregnancies in women with pre-existing cardiomyopathies are considered at high risk for complications. However, few data are available to characterize their natural history and predict the outcome. Aims Our aim was to evaluate the prevalence and predictors of acute cardiac and obstetric events in women with a cardiomyopathy during pregnancy, excluding peripartum cardiomyopathy. Methods In this retrospective study in a referral centre for cardiomyopathies, we included 43 consecutive pregnancies in 36 women with dilated, hypertrophic, arrhythmogenic right ventricular or tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy, or left ventricular non-compaction. Results We observed a major cardiovascular event during 15 pregnancies (35%), including three cardiac deaths, which occurred in patients who did not follow our usual early multidisciplinary protocol. The Carpreg score was predictive of maternal complication rate (67%, 36% and 31% in women with a Carpreg score of 2, 1 and 0, respectively). However, major cardiac complications occurred in four women with no risk factors. Left ventricular ejection fraction alone, gradient in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the Zahara score and the modified World Health Organization score appeared to be less discriminant than Carpreg for maternal outcome. There were two intrauterine fetal deaths, nine premature deliveries (23%), 17 low neonatal birth weights (40%) and 11 cases of hypoglycaemia (26%). Conclusions Pregnancy in women with a cardiomyopathy is at high risk for both women and neonates. The highest risks are observed in women who do not benefit from early multidisciplinary team management, and in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. Our findings suggest that the Carpreg score is the most appropriate predictor of maternal complications, although the stratification might be improved.