title: Difficult cases in heart failure: Left ventricular dysfunction related to septic shock masquerading as postpartum cardiomyopathy.
abstract: Peripartum cardiomyopathy, an uncommon cause of chronic heart failure, may present during the third trimester of pregnancy, but most often develops within 2 months postpartum. The etiologies of heart failure during pregnancy and postpartum are numerous, however. The authors describe the case of a 25-year-old woman who developed severe, symptomatic heart failure following delivery and discuss their initial consideration of peripartum cardiomyopathy and the differential diagnostic features of this case. (c)2001 CHF, Inc.
authors.affiliation: The Cardiovascular Research Laboratories, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, Bronx, NY.
authors.forename: I F
authors.initials: IF
authors.lastname: Bukharovich
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Le Jemtel