Mechanical heart valves increase pregnancy risk

(European Society of Cardiology) The fact that mechanical heart valves increase risks during and after pregnancy, has been confirmed by data from the ROPAC registry presented for the first time today in an ESC Congress Hot Line session by professor Jolien W. Roos-Hesselink, co-chair with professor Roger Hall of the registry's executive committee. The registry found that 1.4 percent of pregnant women with a mechanical heart valve died and 20 percent lost their baby during pregnancy.