Interventions for treating peripartum cardiomyopathy to improve outcomes for women and babies

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM or PCMO) is a rare disease of unknown etiology, characterised by an acute onset of heart failure in women in the late stage of pregnancy or in the early months postpartum.

To assess the effectiveness and safety of any intervention for the care of women and/or their babies with a diagnosis of peripartum cardiomyopathy.

We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register (27 July 2010) and the reference lists of identified studies.

Randomised and quasi-randomised controlled trials of any intervention for treating peripartum cardiomyopathy. Such interventions include: drugs; cardiac monitoring and treatment; haemodynamic monitoring and treatments; supportive therapies and heart transplant.

Two authors independently assessed the studies for inclusion, assessed risk of bias and carried out data extraction. Data entry was checked.

We identified and included one pilot study, involving 20 women, undertaken in South Africa. Women were diagnosed postnatally and included in the study within 24 hours of diagnosis.

There are insufficient data to draw any firm conclusions. Treatment with bromocriptine appears promising, although women would be unable to breastfeed due to suppression of lactation.