Obesity, pregnancy, and left ventricular functioning during the third trimester.

OBJECTIVE

Our purpose was to determine left ventricular size and function in obese pregnant patients during the third trimester.

STUDY DESIGN

Eight morbidly obese pregnant patients had M-mode echocardiography. None were hypertensive or diabetic at the time of study. A group of 36 normal patients were used as controls.

RESULTS

Left ventricular end-diastolic dimension, fractional shortening, and cardiac index were not significantly different between the two groups. Left atrial size, left ventricular wall thickness, interventricular septal thickness, and left ventricular mass were greater in the obese group. The radius-to-wall thickness ratio was significantly smaller in the obese group.

CONCLUSIONS

(1) Left ventricular dimension and function in obese patients was similar to that of nonobese patients. (2) The left ventricle was found to be significantly hypertrophied in obese patients. Left ventricular reconfiguration appears to be important in preserving left ventricular function. Whether these changes are specific to pregnancy or secondary to maternal obesity remains to be determined.