LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF MULTIPLE PREGNANCIES ON CARDIAC DIMENSIONS AND SYSTOLIC AND DIASTOLIC FUNCTION

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated whether the recurring volume loading a nd hormonal changes in multiple pregnancies might have some cumulative effect on heart size and function. STUDY DESIGN: Echocardiograms were performed on 20 healthy women with at least 4 (mean 5.2) term pregnan cies; 20 healthy, age-matched, nulliparous women served as controls. R ESULTS: There were no significant differences in chamber dimension, sy stolic or diastolic function, valvular incompetence, or heart rate bet ween the groups. There was a small, but significant, prolongation in d eceleration time of the E wave in the multiparous women. CONCLUSION: T hese findings show that the human heart is generally able to repeatedl y adapt to multiple episodes of volume overload in pregnancy without l asting detrimental structural or functional changes.