Exercise echocardiography can refine risk stratification for some women with significant disease
who wish to conceive, for example, the asymptomatic woman with severe aortic stenosis (valve area
1 cm2) and good ventricular function. Such a patient is likely to tolerate pregnancy well if she has a
normal exercise capacity, normal blood pressure response to exercise, no exertional electrocardiographic
(ECG) changes, the increase in Doppler-derived aortic valve gradient at peak exercise is