Hypoplastic right-heart syndrome presenting as multiple miscarriages

Chadi Dib, Philip A. Araoz, Norman P. Davies, Joseph A. Dearani, Naser M. Ammash

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

Reversible causes of miscarriage are many, but they affect only 1% of women who are trying to conceive. Herein, we describe the case of a 23-year-old woman who presented for evaluation of repeated miscarriages and was found to have hypoxemia and erythrocytosis. Further evaluation revealed hypoplastic right-heart syndrome with an intracardiac shunt. She underwent hybrid repair with pulmonary valve balloon valvuloplasty, followed by surgery to perform atrial septal defect closure and a Glenn anastomosis. The erythrocytosis and hypoxemia resolved, and she was able to conceive and deliver a healthy baby at term 2 years later. This is a unique case of a rare congenital heart defect that went unnoticed until adulthood, when attempts at pregnancy failed because of the associated hypoxemia. Timely and appropriate treatment led to a successful pregnancy after repeated miscarriages. This case exemplifies the need for a comprehensive medical evaluation of every woman with a history of multiple miscarriages to determine whether a reversible cause exists.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)249-254
Number of pages6
JournalTexas Heart Institute Journal
Volume39
Issue number2
StatePublished - 2012

Keywords

  • Abortion, Spontaneous/etiology
  • Congenital/complications/physiopathology/therapy/surgery
  • Heart defects
  • Treatment outcome
  • Ventricular function, Right/physiology

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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