Predictors of left ventricular recovery in a cohort of peripartum cardiomyopathy patients recruited via the internet.
BACKGROUND
Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is the onset of acute heart failure without demonstrable cause during the last month of pregnancy or within five months after delivery. The purpose of this study was to create a prospective registry of PPCM patients with the assistance of the internet and identify clinical factors predictive of ejection fraction (EF) recovery.


METHODS
Patients with PPCM were identified by novel web-based methods. Subjects were categorized as recovered (EF>50) or nonrecovered (EF<50) and compared on the basis of demographic and clinical variables.


RESULTS
Fifty-five subjects met criteria for inclusion. There was a statistically significant association between diagnosis during third trimester and persistent systolic dysfunction (25% vs. 4.7%, p=0.03). Gestational hypertension and breastfeeding were significantly associated with EF recovery (48.8% vs. 16.7%, p=0.046, and 39.5% vs. 8.3%, p=0.04, respectively). EF normalization occurred in all patients with EF(1) ≥ 35%.


CONCLUSIONS
Presence of gHTN, EF ≥ 35% at diagnosis, breastfeeding, and postpartum diagnosis were all significantly associated with recovery of systolic function. Internet recruitment may be a valuable tool for studying PPCM.
Safirstein
Jordan G
JG
Department of Cardiology, The Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute at Morristown Memorial Hospital, Morristown, NJ 07960, United States. jsaf237@gmail.com
Ro
Angela S
AS
Grandhi
Sreeram
S
Wang
Lin
L
Fett
James D
JD
Staniloae
Cezar
C
D000328:Adult; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000628:therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012042:Registries; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left