Overview
Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is the most common cause of valvular heart disease globally and can complicate pregnancy, leading to adverse maternal and fetal outcomes 1. Echocardiography may play a role in screening for RHD and other cardiac abnormalities in pregnant women, particularly in high-prevalence areas 1.Diagnosis
Echocardiography can detect RHD or other cardiac abnormalities in asymptomatic pregnant women 1.Management
Early detection of RHD or other cardiac abnormalities via echocardiography may potentially reduce disease progression and adverse labor-associated outcomes 1.Special Populations
Pregnancy
Undiagnosed or untreated RHD can complicate pregnancy and lead to poor maternal and fetal outcomes 1.
Echocardiography may be used for screening pregnant women for RHD in high-prevalence areas 1.Key Recommendations
Echocardiography as part of antenatal care in high-prevalence areas may detect RHD or other cardiac abnormalities in asymptomatic pregnant women, potentially reducing the rates of disease progression and adverse labor-associated outcomes 1. (Evidence: Weak)
The evidence for routine antenatal echocardiography in high-prevalence areas is affected by low certainty and a lack of studies comparing it to standard antenatal care 1. (Evidence: Weak)References
1 Seitler S, Ahmad M, Ahuja SAC, Ahmed MT, Stevenson A, Schreiber TR et al.. Routine Antenatal Echocardiography in High-Prevalence Areas of Rheumatic Heart Disease: A WHO-Guideline Systematic Review. Global heart 2024. link