title: [Peripartum cardiomyopathy].
abstract: Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a rare disorder in which left ventricular dysfunction and symptoms of heart failure occur in the peripartum period in previously healthy women. Incidence of PPCM ranges from 1 in 1300 to 1 in 15,000 pregnancies. The etiology of PPCM is unknown, but viral, autoimmune, and idiopathic causes may contribute. The diagnostic criteria are onset of heart failure in the last month of pregnancy or in the first 5 months postpartum, absence of determinable cause for cardiac failure, and absence of a demonstrable heart disease before the last month of pregnancy. Risk factors for PPCM include advanced maternal age, multiparity, African race, twinning, gestational hypertension, and long-term tocolysis. The clinical presentation of patients with PPCM is similar to that of patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. Echocardiography is central to diagnosis. Early diagnosis and initiation of treatment are essential to optimize pregnancy outcome. Treatment is similar to medical therapy for other forms of dilated cardiomyopathy. About half the patients of PPCM recover without complications. The prognosis is poor in patients with persistent cardiomyopathy. Persistence of disease after 6 months indicates irreversible cardiomyopathy and portends worse survival.
authors.affiliation: Sezione di Malattie Cardiovascolari, Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale Applicata, Università degli Studi di Brescia.
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Raddino
authors.forename: Ivano
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bonadei
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Teli
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chieppa
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Caretta
authors.forename: Debora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Robba
authors.forename: Gregoriana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zanini
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vizzardi
authors.forename: Livio Dei
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Cas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy