A Principle for Determining Prognosis of Pregnancy in Rheumatic Heart Disease

Effect of Pregnancy on the Course of Heart Disease

“…* Five valvuloplasties were performed on patiemits who had evidence of cardiac failure in 1950 to 1951; all these were improved but only 2 of the 5 had not been previously sterilized; these patients have not had a subsequent, pregnancy. There was no clear evidence of cardiac failure in any of the patients who were re-examined although enlarged, tender livers were palpable in 2 films showed a smaller heart or decreased vascular markings in 9 patients, and a larger heart in 5 patients. There was no apparent relationship between the x-ray and electrocardiographic changes and the changes in functional capacity except in patients who had had valvuloplasty.…”

Rheumatic Mitral Valve Disease in the Elderly

“…It seems that in some cases of uncomplicated mitral disease pregnancy has little effect, as is shown by the numbers of these patients living to old age. Bunim and Appel (1950) could find no significant difference in the life-histories of 169 rheumatic mothers and 215 rheumatic childless women.…”

Rheumatic Heart Disease Complicating Pregnancy

“…Boyer and Nadas (1944) were unable to demonstrate any effect of parity upon the age at death in this disease. Bunim and Appel (1950) concluded that there was no difference in the age at death between parous and nulliparous women observed at the clinics of the New York Heart Association. Morgan Jones (1951) wrote: "There is still no evidence that, in the majority of cases, pregnancy leads to more than a temporary deterioration in the cardiac condition or that repeated pregnancies appreciably shorten life.…”