Peripartum cardiomyopathy: a review
Anirban Bhattacharyya1, Sukhdeep Singh Basra, Priyanka Sen
1School of Public Health, The University of Texas, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
Texas Heart Institute Journal
|March 14, 2012
Summary
Peripartum cardiomyopathy is heart failure in late pregnancy or early postpartum, with varied global incidence. Early diagnosis and treatment improve recovery, though relapse is a risk in future pregnancies.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Background:
- Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a rare form of heart failure.
- It occurs in the last month of pregnancy or within five months postpartum.
- Causes are thought to be multifactorial, involving genetic and environmental factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To define peripartum cardiomyopathy.
- To outline diagnostic criteria and methods.
- To discuss treatment strategies and prognosis.
Main Methods:
- Echocardiography for diagnosis (LVEF <0.45, FS <30%, LVEDD >2.7 cm/m²).
- Ancillary tests include ECG, MRI, endomyocardial biopsy, and cardiac catheterization.
- Cardiac protein assays (NT-proBNP, troponin, inflammatory markers) aid diagnosis.
Main Results:
- PPCM diagnosis relies on specific echocardiographic parameters.
- Elevated cardiac biomarkers and genetic links to dilated cardiomyopathy are noted.
- Conventional heart failure therapies and targeted treatments are employed.
Conclusions:
- PPCM requires prompt diagnosis and management.
- Treatment balances efficacy with safety during pregnancy and lactation.
- While mortality is up to 10%, many patients recover within 3-6 months.
Keywords:
Cardiac outputcardiomyopathies/diagnosis/epidemiology/etiology/therapycardiomyopathy, dilated/physiopathology/prevention & controlcardiomyopathy, peripartumheart failure/diagnosis/etiology/physiopathology/therapylactation/bloodpostpartum periodpregnancy complications, cardiovascular/diagnosis/epidemiology/etiology/therapypregnancy trimester, thirdpregnancy, multipleprognosispuerperal disordersventricular dysfunction, leftRelated Concept Videos
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