In women with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), pregnancy prompts major changes in hemodynamic and cardiac autonomic function that may precipitate heart failure (HF) or increase the risk of cardiac arrhythmia. We report the clinical follow-up of two patients with non-obstructive HCM implanted with a cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) allowing for continuous analysis of heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV) and cardiac arrhythmia throughout the entire course of pregnancy. Both patients experienced increased HR and decreased HRV from the early stages of pregnancy, which persisted until delivery. Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) and runs of non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) reached a peak in the second and third trimesters, concurrent with sympathetic hyperactivity. In one patient with baseline NYHA class II HF symptoms, increased PVCs and NSVT were consistent with the deterioration of HF, supporting the decision to bring the delivery forward. While both patients experienced a persistent increase in sympathetic tone and ventricular ectopic activity, no life-threatening arrhythmias were documented. During pregnancy, patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy develop progressive neuroautonomic imbalance, prompting an increase in non-sustained ventricular arrhythmia. This enhanced arrhythmia burden warrants close follow-up and rhythm assessment during the third trimester, especially in women who have heart failure symptoms before pregnancy. Implantable cardioverter defibrillators provide a continuous analysis of heart rate variability and arrhythmia burden that supports therapeutic decision-making during follow-up.

Autonomic cardiovascular control and cardiac arrhythmia in two pregnant women with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: Insights from ICD monitoring / Francia, Pietro; Adduci, Carmen; Musumeci, Beatrice; Semprini, Lorenzo; Palano, Francesca; Zezza, Luigi; Volpe, Massimo; Autore, Camillo. - In: REVISTA PORTUGUESA DE CARDIOLOGIA. - ISSN 0870-2551. - 37:4(2018), pp. 351-351.e4. [10.1016/j.repc.2017.09.019]

Autonomic cardiovascular control and cardiac arrhythmia in two pregnant women with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: Insights from ICD monitoring

Francia, Pietro;Adduci, Carmen;Musumeci, Beatrice;Semprini, Lorenzo;Palano, Francesca;Zezza, Luigi;Volpe, Massimo;Autore, Camillo
2018

Abstract

In women with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), pregnancy prompts major changes in hemodynamic and cardiac autonomic function that may precipitate heart failure (HF) or increase the risk of cardiac arrhythmia. We report the clinical follow-up of two patients with non-obstructive HCM implanted with a cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) allowing for continuous analysis of heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV) and cardiac arrhythmia throughout the entire course of pregnancy. Both patients experienced increased HR and decreased HRV from the early stages of pregnancy, which persisted until delivery. Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) and runs of non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) reached a peak in the second and third trimesters, concurrent with sympathetic hyperactivity. In one patient with baseline NYHA class II HF symptoms, increased PVCs and NSVT were consistent with the deterioration of HF, supporting the decision to bring the delivery forward. While both patients experienced a persistent increase in sympathetic tone and ventricular ectopic activity, no life-threatening arrhythmias were documented. During pregnancy, patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy develop progressive neuroautonomic imbalance, prompting an increase in non-sustained ventricular arrhythmia. This enhanced arrhythmia burden warrants close follow-up and rhythm assessment during the third trimester, especially in women who have heart failure symptoms before pregnancy. Implantable cardioverter defibrillators provide a continuous analysis of heart rate variability and arrhythmia burden that supports therapeutic decision-making during follow-up.
2018
Heart rate variability; hypertrophic cardiomyopathy; implantable cardioverter defibrillator; pregnancy; ventricular arrhythmia; cardiology and cardiovascular medicine
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
Autonomic cardiovascular control and cardiac arrhythmia in two pregnant women with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: Insights from ICD monitoring / Francia, Pietro; Adduci, Carmen; Musumeci, Beatrice; Semprini, Lorenzo; Palano, Francesca; Zezza, Luigi; Volpe, Massimo; Autore, Camillo. - In: REVISTA PORTUGUESA DE CARDIOLOGIA. - ISSN 0870-2551. - 37:4(2018), pp. 351-351.e4. [10.1016/j.repc.2017.09.019]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/1138774
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