Pregnancy and outcome in women with congenital heart disease

PhD ceremony: Mr. A. Balci, 14.30 uur, Grote Vergaderzaal, Oude Boteringestraat 44, Groningen

Dissertation: Pregnancy and outcome in women with congenital heart disease

Promotor(s): prof. D.J. van Veldhuisen, prof. J.G. Aarnoudse

Faculty: Medical Sciences

The present thesis describes normal physiology of pregnancy and the pathophysiological consequences of haemodynamic changes of pregnancy in women with congenital heart disease (CHD). The known predictors of adverse pregnancy outcome are listed and than more specific complications and predictors of adverse pregnancy outcome in women with CHD are described. Need for cardiac medication prepregnancy turns to be a major predictor of cardiovascular and offspring complications.