Left ventricular outflow tract obstruction in pregnancy: changes in echocardiogram gradients and association with maternal–fetal outcomes
Authors' conclusion
The physiological changes of pregnancy resulted in an increase in the gradient across the LVOTO, which was not associated with any adverse obstetric outcomes. In some cases, the increase in the gradient only partially reversed after pregnancy, implying that pregnancy may induce a structural change in the lesion, giving rise to LVOTO.
Study context
- Population
- Pregnant women with left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO) of a range of causespregnancies in 100 women · bicuspid aortic valve 71 · trileaflet aortic stenosis 23 · prosthetic valve replacement 18 · subvalvular stenosis 8
- Participants
- 125 pregnancies
- Comparison
- LVOT gradient during pregnancy vs baseline, and its association with pregnancy outcomes
- Outcome
- Change in gradient and pregnancy outcomes
- Follow-up
- During pregnancy
Methodological detailsthree tertiary centres
- Three tertiary centres
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Mean gradient increased significantly
19.5±11.9 mm Hg to 23.8±14.9 mm Hg
Peak gradient increased significantly
31.6±19.2 mm Hg to 40.6±27.7 mm Hg
Original publication
Left ventricular outflow tract obstruction in pregnancy: changes in echocardiogram gradients and association with maternal–fetal outcomes. Heart. Published 20 July 2026. doi:10.
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