SMFM Consult #66: Pregnancy Evaluation & Management of Patients with Solid Organ Transplants

Abstract

The rate of solid organ transplant in reproductive-aged patients has increased in the past 3 decades. Concurrently, the range of medical immunosuppressive agents has increased, making it safer for reproductive-aged individuals who have received transplants to attempt and continue a pregnancy. In this Consult, we review the general considerations and contemporary approach to medical and obstetrical management of pregnant solid organ transplant recipients, discuss the perinatal outcomes and incidence of graft rejection specific to the most common types of organ transplants, and provide management recommendations based on the available evidence. The following are Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine recommendations: (1) we recommend that all solid organ transplant recipients capable of pregnancy be offered prepregnancy counseling as part of the pretransplant evaluation and before any posttransplant pregnancy (Best Practice); (2) we recommend deferring pregnancy for at least 1 year (except for lung transplant recipients in which case a 2-year deferral is recommended)following solid organ transplant or any episode of acute cellular rejection (GRADE 1B); (3) we recommend that solid organ transplant recipients have stable allograft function and optimal control of chronic medical comorbidities before attempting pregnancy (GRADE 1B); (4) we recommend that solid organ transplant recipients of reproductive age use highly effective contraception when on mycophenolate or other immunosuppressive agents with known teratogenic risk (GRADE 1A); (5) we recommend that solid organ transplant recipients contemplating pregnancy transition to an appropriate immunosuppressive regimen before attempting pregnancy to establish stable medication dosing and allograft function (GRADE 1C); (6) we recommend close monitoring of serum drug levels during pregnancy and the postpartum period to guide immunosuppressive therapy dosing (GRADE 1C); (7) we recommend that solid organ transplant recipients who are pregnant or contemplating pregnancy receive all indicated vaccinations before and during pregnancy (GRADE 1C); (8) given the risk of fetal and neonatal sequelae secondary to cytomegalovirus infection in pregnancy, we suggest that solid organ transplant recipients ideally complete any indicated antiviral prophylaxis or treatment before pursuing pregnancy (GRADE 2B); (9) we recommend daily low-dose aspirin prophylaxis to reduce the risk for preeclampsia in pregnant solid organ transplant recipients and to reduce the risk for renal allograft failure in renal transplant recipients (GRADE 1C); (10) as for all pregnant people, we recommend that pregnant solid organ transplant recipients have access to mental health specialists and receive screeningfor depression during pregnancy and the postpartum period (Best Practice); (11) because of the increased incidence of fetal growth restriction and common coexisting medical morbidities, we recommend serial assessment of fetal growth every 4 to 6 weeks throughout gestation after the anatomic survey (GRADE 1C); (12) we suggest antenatal surveillancefrom 32 weeks of gestation unless other fetal or maternal factors are identified in which case initiation of surveillance at an earlier gestational age is indicated (GRADE 2C); (13) we recommend that renal function be assessed before pregnancy or in early pregnancy in all solid organ transplant recipients (kidney and non-kidney) (GRADE 1C); (14) we suggest individualized delivery timing for pregnant solid organ transplant recipients and to consider delivery at between 37þ0/7 and 39þ6/7 weeks of gestation; in the absence of other indications, we suggest delivery by 39þ6/7 weeks gestation for pregnant solid organ transplant recipients (GRADE 2B); (15) given that a trial of labor is associated with a high success rate and lower neonatal morbidity without increasing maternal morbidity or compromising graft survival, we recommend that cesarean delivery be reservedfor medical obstetrical indications in solid organ transplant recipients (GRADE 1C); (16) we recommend that blood pressure targets in pregnant renal transplant recipients with chronic hypertension follow guidelines for nonpregnant recipients with a target blood pressure of 130/80 mm Hg (GRADE 1C); (17) we recommend monthly urine cultures to screen for asymptomatic bacteriuria with treatment if positive to protect the graft in pregnant renal transplant recipients (GRADE 1C); (18) we recommend that pregnancies in pancreas-kidney transplant recipients be managed in a similar way as those of renal transplant recipients alone (GRADE 1C); (19) we recommend characterizing the underlying condition that led to liver transplantation and assessing baseline renal function in pregnant liver transplant recipients. (GRADE 1C); (20) because of the cardiovascular demand of pregnancy and the unique physiological implications of cardiac transplantation, we recommend that pregnant heart transplant recipients receive multidisciplinary care with cardiology, cardiac and/or obstetrical anesthesiology, and maternal-fetal medicine specialists (Best Practice); and (21) we recommend careful delivery planning tominimize hemodynamic stress (including considering operative vaginal delivery tominimize Valsalva) and suggest continuous intrapartum or intraoperative electrocardiographic monitoring for heart transplant recipients (GRADE 1C).

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^{CATEGORIES: Consult Series}