Peripartum cardiomyopathy

Objective

To determine the clinical and echocardiographic profiles of women with peripartum cardiomyopathy and ascertain the natural course of the disease.

Methods

Fifty-six women with peripartum cardiomyopathy were followed up for a mean period of 6.1 years and their clinical and echocardiographic profiles were studied as well as their outcomes.

Results

The mean ± SD age at presentation was 31 ± 5 years and mean parity was 2.6 ± 1. Of the 56 patients, 18 (32.1%) had NYHA Class II, 24 (42.9%) had NYHA Class III, and 14 (25%) had NYHA Class IV symptoms, and 21 (37.5%) and 35 (62.5%), respectively, presented with features of heart failure during pregnancy and the postpartum. During follow-up, the left ventricular ejection fraction improved from 31% ± 7.2% to 43% ± 8% (P ≤ 0.05). Nine patients (16.1%) became pregnant, with a mortality of 55.5% during pregnancy and 23.2% during follow-up.

Conclusion

Women with peripartum cardiomyopathy present with severe left ventricular dysfunction late in the pregnancy or early in the puerperium. A considerable number of women still die from this condition despite the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and β-blockers. A subsequent pregnancy carries a very high risk of mortality.