Maternal and perinatal outcome of pregnancies complicated by cardiac disease

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the maternal and perinatal outcome of pregnancies complicated by cardiac disease in a tertiary care center in Egypt. Methods: During a 1-year period, a total of 86 pregnant women with cardiac disease were admitted. Maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality were calculated and compared with a control group. Results: Seventy-seven (89.5%) patients were due to rheumatic affection, and 60 patients were classified as NYHA classes I-II. There was one case of maternal mortality (1.16%), and 10 other cases developed life-threatening complications. Two perinatal mortalities (2.32%) occurred in this series. Birth weight of babies born to mothers with functional classes III and IV were significantly lower than those of functional classes I-II and control group. Conclusion: Rheumatic heart disease with pregnancy is still predominant in Egypt. Maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality are strongly correlated to maternal cardiac functional classification.