Marfan's syndrome and other aortopathies in pregnancy.

Aortopathies, or disease affecting the aorta, are associated with a significant mortality risk for the mother and foetus during pregnancy because of an increased rate of aortic dissection. The hereditary aortopathies; Marfan's syndrome, bicuspid aortic valve, Loeys-Dietz syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos (type IV) syndrome, Turner's syndrome and nonsyndromic familial thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection are all associated with an increased risk of aortic dissection particularly during the third trimester and early postpartum period. Maternal outcome in pregnancy depends on the underlying disorder and the aortic dimensions prior to pregnancy.

A Case of Breathlessness during Pregnancy: The Difficulty in Diagnosing Heart Failure.

We present the case of a 33-year-old woman in her second pregnancy who was transferred to our unit following a one-month history of worsening fatigue and a three-day history of worsening symptoms of heart failure. Shortly after presentation she developed ventricular fibrillation and arrested. At an emergency caesarean section a placental abruption was noted and the baby was stillborn, unable to be resuscitated.