Key result
Standard imaging and diagnostic tests are safe for pregnant patients with CV disease.
Why the study?
Evaluating cardiovascular disease in pregnancy is challenging because cardiac symptoms overlap with normal pregnancy symptoms, alongside concerns regarding the potential impact of imaging studies on fetal development.
Standard cardiovascular diagnostic and imaging studies can generally be safely performed during pregnancy, requiring a high index of suspicion for cardiovascular disease.
May support diagnostic testing in pregnant CVD patients; leaves open need for prospective validation.
The evaluation of cardiovascular disease in pregnancy is challenging due to overlaps between cardiac and normal pregnancy symptomatology, as well as concerns about the potential impact, if any, of imaging studies on fetal development. We discuss here an approach to the evaluation of the pregnant cardiac patient and review the safety and utility of available diagnostic tests, including labs, electrocardiogram, echocardiography, stress testing, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and cardiac catheterization. Importantly, the majority of standard imaging studies can be safely performed in pregnancy, and a high index of suspicion must be maintained when evaluating pregnant patients, especially those with preexisting cardiovascular disease.
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Purisch et al. (2020) conducted a review in Cardiovascular disease in pregnancy. Diagnostic testing was evaluated. Standard imaging studies and diagnostic tests can be safely performed in pregnant patients with suspected or preexisting cardiovascular disease.
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