title: The variable clinical course of peripartum cardiomyopathy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In Europe, peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a rare disorder, often difficult to diagnose and it has a variable clinical course. The aim of this report was to describe and discuss the individual variability of this disorder and its management.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three cases of PPCM manifesting as severe heart failure are compared. Common was the presence of myocardial inflammation detected by endomyocardial biopsy. Different were treatment methods and clinical course. Modern therapeutic concepts such as immunosuppressive therapy and bromocriptin administration are discussed, as well as non-pharmacological approaches.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the differential diagnostics of dyspnea associated with pregnancy and childbirth, PPCM should be considered. The potentially severe course of the disease requires hospitalization with the possibility of comprehensive heart failure treatment, including non-pharmacological approaches such as device therapy and heart transplantation.
authors.affiliation: International Clinical Research Center - 1st Internal Cardio-Angiological Clinic, St. Anne's University Hospital Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Krejci
authors.forename: Petr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hude
authors.forename: Lenka
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Spinarova
authors.forename: Vita
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zampachova
authors.forename: Alzbeta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sirotkova
authors.forename: Tomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Freiberger
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nemcova
authors.forename: Jiri
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vitovec
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D009205:Myocarditis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D058725:Peripartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult