[Silent pericardial effusion in late pregnancy: echocardiographic detection in the third trimester of pregnancy (author's transl)].

Of 123 healthy pregnant women (mean age 28 yrs) who have been studied at various stages of their gestation by Tm and two dimensional echocardiography, 46 were in their late pregnancy (32nd to 38th week of pregnancy). Echocardiograms showed definite signs of pericardial effusion (PE) in 19 of those 46 women: the effusion was large in two, moderate in four and small in thirteen cases. PE was clinically silent as neither precordial pain nor pericardial friction rub was present. In all cases, pregnancies were uncomplicated; clinical examination was normal; however blood pressure was slightly elevated in three women. The electrocardiogram was normal or showed non specific ST-T change. PE appeared in the late pregnancy and did not occur before the 32 nd week; it was always transient and could not any longer be seen within the two months following delivery. It was likely to result from water and salt inflation as the mean weight gain was significantly higher in the group of women with PE. PE has not been reported so far during normal pregnancy. Echocardiography affords a safe and reliable approach of its diagnostic.