IMR Press / RCM / Volume 24 / Issue 10 / DOI: 10.31083/j.rcm2410279
Open Access Review
The Challenge of Managing Atrial Fibrillation during Pregnancy
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1 Cardiology Department, Grande Ospedale Metropolitano, GOM, AO Bianchi Melacrino Morelli, 89124 Reggio Calabria, Italy
2 Cardiology Unit, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, 20162 Milano, Italy
3 Cardiology Department, P.O. Paolo Borsellino Hospital, ASP Trapani, 91025 Marsala (TP), Italy
4 Pediatric Cardiology Unit, Monaldi Hospital, University of Campania L. Vanvitelli, 80138 Naples, Italy
5 Cardiology Department, Mauriziano Hospital, 10128 Torino, Italy
6 Cardiology Department, Ospedale San Paolo, 17100 Savona, Italy
7 Cardiology Unit, Giovanni Paolo II Hospital, 88046 Lamezia, Italy
8 Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Meyer Hospital, 50139 Florence, Italy
9 Department of Cardiology, Ospedale Valduce, 22100 Como, Italy
10 Cardiology Department, Cannizzaro Hospital, 95123 Catania, Italy
11 Clinical and Rehabilitation Cardiology Department, San Filippo Neri Hospital, ASL Roma 1, 00135 Roma, Italy
12 Adult Congenital Heart Diseases Unit, AORN dei Colli, Monaldi Hospital, 80131 Naples, Italy
13 Cardiology Department, Ospedale del Mare, 80147 Napoli, Italy
14 Interventional Cardiology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
15 Cardiothoracic Department, Maastricht University Hospital, 6229 Maastricht, The Netherlands
16 Cardiovascular Department, Sant'Anna e San Sebastiano Hospital, 81100 Caserta, Italy
17 Department of Cardiology, General Regional Hospital “F. Miulli'', Acquavivadelle Fonti, 70021 Bari, Italy
18 Cardiology Department, Garibaldi Nesima Hospital, 95122 Catania, Italy
*Correspondence: fabiana.luca92@gmail.com (Fabiana Lucà)
Rev. Cardiovasc. Med. 2023, 24(10), 279; https://doi.org/10.31083/j.rcm2410279
Submitted: 24 May 2023 | Revised: 14 July 2023 | Accepted: 3 August 2023 | Published: 7 October 2023
Copyright: © 2023 The Author(s). Published by IMR Press.
This is an open access article under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Abstract

The incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) during pregnancy increases with maternal age and with the presence of structural heart disorders. Early diagnosis and prompt therapy can considerably reduce the risk of thromboembolism. The therapeutic approach to AF during pregnancy is particularly challenging, and the maternal and fetal risks associated with the use of antiarrhythmic and anticoagulant drugs must be carefully evaluated. Moreover, the currently used thromboembolic risk scores have yet to be validated for the prediction of stroke during pregnancy. At present, electrical cardioversion is considered to be the safest and most effective strategy in women with hemodynamic instability. Beta-selective blockers are also recommended as the first choice for rate control. Antiarrhythmic drugs such as flecainide, propafenone and sotalol should be considered for rhythm control if atrioventricular nodal-blocking drugs fail. AF catheter ablation is currently not recommended during pregnancy. Overall, the therapeutic strategy for AF in pregnancy must be carefully assessed and should take into consideration the advantages and drawbacks of each aspect. A multidisciplinary approach with a “Pregnancy-Heart Team” appears to improve the management and outcome of these patients. However, further studies are needed to identify the most appropriate therapeutic strategies for AF in pregnancy.

Keywords
atrial fibrillation (AF)
pregnancy
electrical cardioversion (ECV)
antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs)
anticoagulants
Pregnancy Heart Team
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