title: Peripartum cardiomyopathy: current knowledge and future directions.
abstract: Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a form of heart failure occurring at the end of pregnancy or early in the postpartum period. Women may recover, have persistent cardiac dysfunction or suffer complications and death. Women who are African-American, older, hypertensive or have multiple gestation pregnancies have increased risk. Diagnosis and treatment may be delayed due to similarities between symptoms of normal pregnancy and heart failure. Echocardiography is essential for the diagnosis, and B-type natriuretic peptide can be helpful. Treatment for systolic heart failure must be adjusted during pregnancy, and anticoagulation may be indicated. Even after recovery, subsequent pregnancy confers substantial risk of worsening heart failure. Further investigations into the etiology, duration of treatment and risks for relapse are needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Michigan, 1500 E Medical Center Drive, SPC 5853, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5853, USA.
authors.forename: Melinda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Michigan, 1500 E Medical Center Drive, SPC 5853, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5853, USA.
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Duvernoy
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000367:Age Factors; D001942:Breast Feeding; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D009099:Multiple Birth Offspring; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood; D058725:Peripartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D002317:Cardiovascular Agents; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain
keywords: peripartum cardiomyopathy; postpartum cardiomyopathy; pregnancy-associated cardiomyopathy