Pregnancy after Heart Transplantation

J Card Fail. 2021 Feb;27(2):176-184. doi: 10.1016/j.cardfail.2020.07.011. Epub 2020 Aug 7.

Abstract

As post-transplant survival improves, many heart transplant (HT) recipients are of, or are surviving to, childbearing age. Solid-organ transplant recipients who become pregnant should be managed by a multidisciplinary cardio-obstetrics team, including specialists in maternal and fetal medicine, cardiology and transplant medicine, as well as anesthesia, neonatology, psychology, genetics, and social services. With careful patient selection, pregnancy after HT can been managed safely. The purpose of this comprehensive review was to summarize the current evidence and recommendations surrounding preconception counseling, medical management and surveillance, maternal outcomes, breastfeeding, and remaining gaps in knowledge.

Keywords: Heart transplantation; contraception; immunosuppression; pregnancy; rejection; surveillance.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Graft Survival
  • Heart Failure*
  • Heart Transplantation*
  • Humans
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications*
  • Pregnancy Outcome