Cardiovascular evaluation of pregnant women with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Background The effect of physiological circulatory changes during pregnancy on hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) has been reported with limited data. This study aimed to provide information regarding outcomes of pregnant women with HCM and to identify predictors of major adverse cardiac event (MACE). Methods A total of 45 pregnancies with HCM were retrospectively reviewed. The primary endpoint was a MACE that occurred within an 8-week period after delivery, including maternal death, heart failure (HF), syncope, and malignant ventricular arrhythmias (VAs). Baseline and outcome data were analyzed for all patients. Patients with and without MACE were compared, and patients with obstructive HCM were compared with those who had non-obstructive HCM. The study population was divided into two subgroups of patients having or not having an implantable cardioverter defibrillator implantation (ICD). Results At least one MACE occurred in 11 patients (24.4%); six patients developed HF (13.3%), six had a ventricular tachyarrhythmia (13.3%), and two had syncope (4.4%). New York Heart Association functional class of >= II, presence of HF signs before pregnancy, increased left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) gradient were significantly associated with MACE. Fatal VAs were seen during pregnancy in one of five HCM patients with ICD. In the ROC curve analysis, an LVOT gradient higher than 53.5 mm Hg predicted the presence of MACE with a sensitivity of 90.9% and a specificity of 73.5%. This study is the largest series in the literature representing pregnant women who had HCM and ICD. Conclusion The current data suggest that HF and high LVOT gradients are important risk factors for the development of cardiac complications.