title: Peripartum cardiomyopathy: experience in an Asian tertiary centre.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a rare but life-threatening condition. We report 11 patients admitted to the National Heart Centre Singapore with a diagnosis of PPCM over a period of 14 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  Baseline demographics, pregnancy history, haematology, serum biochemistry and echocardiographic findings of women admitted with a diagnosis of PPCM were analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidence of PPCM was 0.89 per 1,000 live births in our cohort. 63.6% of the patients were Malay and 27.3% were Chinese. 45.5% of the patients were smokers and 45.5% had a history of pregnancy-induced hypertension or preeclampsia. There was no maternal mortality. Mean left ventricular ejection fractions at diagnosis and at six months were 26.9% ± 9.1% and 51.9% ± 10.6%, respectively. Mean left ventricular internal diameters in end-diastole at diagnosis and at six months were 5.5 ± 0.5 cm and 5.1 ± 0.6 cm, respectively. All patients were treated successfully for the acute episode and all but one patient had returned to New York Heart Association functional class I status at six months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PPCM remains a rare condition and appears to occur more commonly in Malay patients. Smoking and pregnancy-induced hypertension appear to be significant risk factors. While short-term outcome remains excellent, collaborative studies with other tertiary centres will help enhance our understanding of the long-term management of and clinical outcomes in these patients.
authors: National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore. lim.choon.pin@nhcs.com.sg
authors: Choon Pin
authors: CP
authors: Lim
authors: David Kheng Leng
authors: DK
authors: Sim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D002309:Cardiology / Q000379:methods; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000175:diagnosis; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012846:Singapore; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers