Premature Closure of the Foramen Ovale Secondary to Congenital Aortic Valvular Stenosis in a Stillborn

Abstract

Premature closure of the foramen ovale is a rare and deleterious condition that can occur as an isolated defect or in association with other congenital and cardiovascular anomalies. We report on the pathologic findings in a 22-week stillborn male fetus with premature closure of the foramen ovale, severe aortic valve stenosis, cardiomegaly, intact atrial and ventricular septa, hypoplasia of the ascending aorta, and hypoplastic aortic arch with a preductal coarctation ridge. To the best of our knowledge, this is only the second report on this rare constellation of complex congenital cardiac defects.

Keywords :

• premature closure of foramen ovale
• congenital valvular aortic stenosis
• congenital heart disease
• stillborn
• autopsy