title: Post-partum dilated cardiomyopathy in anti-phospholipid positive woman.
abstract: Recurrent fetal loss and pregnancy complications, especially severe early-onset preeclampsia, are frequently associated with anti-phospholipid antibodies. We report a case of post-partum cardiac involvement leading to dilated cardiomyopathy in a woman with a persistent positivity for anti-cardiolipin and anti-nuclear antibodies. Her clinical and obstetric record reported two previous fetal losses but no other signs characteristic of the anti-phospholipid syndrome or diagnostic for a systemic lupus erythematosus. Post-partum cardiomyopathy might be another cardiac presentation of the anti-phospholipid syndrome, in addition to the well known valvular involvement. In patients with persistent positivities for anti-phospholipid antibodies, a prompt identification of such a complication in the post-partum period should be taken into account by physicians. Adequate cardiologic treatment associated with antiaggregant and steroid therapy might be useful to prevent further complications in these patients.
authors.affiliation: II Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Airoldi
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Eid
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tosetto
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Meroni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017153:Antibodies, Anticardiolipin / Q000097:blood; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000097:blood; D016736:Antiphospholipid Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000276:immunology; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D017153:Antibodies, Anticardiolipin; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear