title: Characterisation of peripartum cardiomyopathy by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.
abstract: Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a rare cause of heart failure. Only half of the patients recover normal cardiac function. We assessed the usefulness of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and late enhancement imaging to detect myocardial fibrosis in order to predict cardiac function recovery in patients with peripartum cardiomyopathy. Among a consecutive series of 1,037 patients referred for heart failure treatment or prognostic evaluation between 1999 and 2006, eight women had confirmed PPCM. They all underwent echocardiography and cardiac MRI for assessment of left ventricular anatomy, systolic function and detection of myocardial fibrosis through late enhancement imaging. Mean (+/- SD) baseline left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 28 +/- 4%. After a follow-up of 50 +/- 9 months, half the patients recovered normal cardiac function (LVEF = 58 +/- 4%) and four did not (LVEF = 35 +/- 6%). None of the eight patients exhibited abnormal myocardial late enhancement. No difference in MRI characteristics was observed between the two groups. Patients with PPCM do not exhibit a specific cardiac MRI pattern and particularly no myocardial late enhancement. It suggests that myocardial fibrosis does not play a major role in the limitation of cardiac function recovery after PPCM.
authors.affiliation: Pôle de Cardiologie et Maladies Vasculaires, CHRU Lille et Université Lille 2, Bvd Pr J Leclercq, 59037, Lille Cedex, France. frederic.mouquet@univ-lille2.fr
authors.forename: Frederic
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mouquet
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lions
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: de Groote
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bouabdallaoui
authors.forename: Serge
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Willoteaux
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dagorn
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Deruelle
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lamblin
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bauters
authors.forename: Jean Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Beregi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019028:Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine / Q000379:methods*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis*