Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Cardiac disease in pregnancy and rheumatic heart disease
Introduction
Overview
Overview
Although rheumatic heart disease previously accounted for over 90% of cardiovascular disease during pregnancy, recent studies demonstrate that congenital heart disease is now more common. The Royal Infirmary at Edinburgh University reports a decline in the proportion of cardiovascular disease in pregnancy attributable to rheumatic heart diesease as 94% (1928-47), 36% (68-77), 24% (73-77). The disease remains common in less developed nations.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief: Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [2]