title: Current state of knowledge on aetiology, diagnosis, management, and therapy of peripartum cardiomyopathy: a position statement from the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology Working Group on peripartum cardiomyopathy.
abstract: Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a cause of pregnancy-associated heart failure. It typically develops during the last month of, and up to 6 months after, pregnancy in women without known cardiovascular disease. The present position statement offers a state-of-the-art summary of what is known about risk factors for potential pathophysiological mechanisms, clinical presentation of, and diagnosis and management of PPCM. A high index of suspicion is required for the diagnosis, as shortness of breath and ankle swelling are common in the peripartum period. Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a distinct form of cardiomyopathy, associated with a high morbidity and mortality, but also with the possibility of full recovery. Oxidative stress and the generation of a cardiotoxic subfragment of prolactin may play key roles in the pathophysiology of PPCM. In this regard, pharmacological blockade of prolactin offers the possibility of a disease-specific therapy.
authors.affiliation: Hatter Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. sliwa-hahnlek@mdh-africa.org
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sliwa
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hilfiker-Kleiner
authors.forename: Mark C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Petrie
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mebazaa
authors.forename: Burkert
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pieske
authors.forename: Eckhart
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Buchmann
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Regitz-Zagrosek
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schaufelberger
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tavazzi
authors.forename: Dirk J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: van Veldhuisen
authors.forename: Hugh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Watkins
authors.forename: Ajay J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Petar M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Seferovic
authors.forename: Uri
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Elkayam
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pankuweit
authors.forename: Zoltan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Papp
authors.forename: Frederic
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mouquet
authors.forename: John J V
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: McMurray
mesh_terms: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002309:Cardiology / Q000639:trends*; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D002402:Cathepsin D; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007249:Inflammation; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D011379:Prognosis; D011388:Prolactin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000187:drug effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D012955:Societies, Medical / Q000639:trends
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D011388:Prolactin; D002402:Cathepsin D