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Fatal outcome of pregnancy in the Eisenmenger syndrome

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 August 2008

Silvia Brach-Prever ,
Mary Sheppard  and
Jane Somerville
Silvia Brach-Prever
Affiliation:
Grown-Up Congenital Heart Unit, Royal Brompton & National Heart Hospital, London
Mary Sheppard
Affiliation:
Department of Pathology, Royal Brompton & National Heart Hospital, London
Jane Somerville*
Affiliation:
Grown-Up Congenital Heart Unit, Royal Brompton & National Heart Hospital, London
*
Dr. Jane Somerville, GUCH Unit, Royal Brompton & National Heart HospitalSydney Street, London, SW3 6NP. Tel: 0171 351 8601; Fax: 0171 351 8201
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Abstract

A mildly symptomatic 28-year-old women with Eisenmenger syndrome became pregnant against advice, and presented at 17 weeks insisting on continuing the pregnancy. She underwent an emergency Caesarean section for pre-eclampsia at 26 weeks, delivering a live 620 g boy, who survived to leave the hospital. In the post-partum period, she presented increasing hypoxemia, despite treatment with noradrenaline, nitric oxide and prostacyclin. She died 2 weeks after delivery from pulmonary haemorrhage. Necropsy showed histological signs of severe pulmonary vascular disease, with evidence of diffuse fibrinoid necrosis, vasculitis and haemorrhage.

Keywords

Eisenmenger syndromepregnancydeath
Type
Clinico-Pathological Correlation
Information
Cardiology in the Young , Volume 7 , Issue 2 , April 1997 , pp. 238 - 240
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1997

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