Peripartum cardiomyopathy: characteristics and outcome in a tertiary care hospital

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) has been traditionally regarded as a condition with a poor prognosis. We studied the acute and long-term outcomes in patients with PPCM in a tertiary care hospital.

Patients with PPCM admitted to our hospital from June 1990 to February 2002 who had documented left ventricular (LV) dysfunction by echocardiographic criteria were retrospectively reviewed.

Out of ten patients who fulfilled the criteria for the diagnosis, six (60%) had severe, and four (40%) had moderate LV dysfunction at echocardiography. None had evidence of other chronic disease. Treatment consisted of fluid restriction, diuresis, and afterload reducers in all, and intravenous inotropes in three (30%) of the patients. No patient died while in hospital or during follow-up. All patients showed improvement in their clinical condition and LV function on follow-up which normalized in seven (70%).

PPCM might carry a relatively good prognosis in patients with absence of associated disease conditions.