High prevalence of subclinical rheumatic heart disease in pregnant women in a developing country: an echocardiographic study.

Objectives: Pregnant women with rheumatic heart disease (RHD) carry a high risk of morbidity and mortality. In this study the prevalence of subclinical RHD in pregnant women in Keren, Eritrea was assessed using echocardiography.

Methods And Results: A prospective cross sectional survey of pregnant women attending a midwife consultation was carried out by two specially trained medical students and an experienced cardiologist.