2018 ESC Guidelines for the management of cardiovascular diseases during pregnancy
2018 ESC Guidelines for the management of cardiovascular diseases during pregnancy: The Task Force for the Management of Cardiovascular Diseases during Pregnancy of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC)
Since the previous version of these Guidelines was published in 2012, new evidence has accumulated, particularly on diagnostic techniques, risk assessment, and the use of cardiovascular drugs. This made a revision of the recommendations necessary.
Pregnancy is complicated by maternal disease in 1–4% of cases. New data about the prevalence and incidence of pregnancy-related heart disease are limited from most parts of the world. Sudden adult death syndrome, peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM), aortic dissection, and myocardial infarction (MI) were the most common causes of maternal death in the UK over the period 2006–08.1–5 Knowledge of the risks associated with CVDs during pregnancy and their management in pregnant women who suffer from serious pre-existing conditions is of pivotal importance for advising patients before pregnancy.6 Since all measures concern not only the mother but the foetus as well, the optimum treatment of both must be targeted.