Echocardiographic characteristics:
The echocardiographic changes in the LVOTO/AS group over the course of pregnancy and post-partum are shown in Table 2. In the LVOTO/AS group, there was an overall increase in the aortic valve peak gradient from preconception to the 3rd trimester (Table 3 and Figure 1). The left ventricular and left atrial size increased and left ventricular ejection fraction decreased overall from preconception to the 3rd trimester (Table 3 and Figure 1). The left ventricular GLS, however, increased over this time.
The averaged 2nd/3rd trimester left ventricular dimension, left ventricular volume, cardiac output and aortic valve peak gradient were significantly increased in the pregnant LVOTO/AS group as compared to pregnant controls (Table 2). LVEF, left ventricular diastolic parameters and left ventricular global longitudinal strain were similar to between LVOTO/AS and control groups. However, in the sub-group of LVOTO/AS pregnant women with> moderate (n=8) vs. < moderate LVOTO/AS (n=26), averaged 2nd/3rd trimester LVEF was lower (51 ± 12% vs. 58 ± 4%, p=0.02) and GLS was lower (-19.5 ± 2.8 vs. -21.2 ± 2.4, p=0.05).