View Main Condition: Cardiomyopathy
Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a rare disorder in which a pregnant woman's heart becomes weakened and enlarged. It develops during the last month of pregnancy, or within 5 months after the baby is born.
Cardiomyopathy - peripartum; Cardiomyopathy - pregnancy
Cardiomyopathy occurs when there is damage to the heart. As a result, the heart muscle becomes weak and does not pump well. This affects the lungs, liver, and other body systems.
Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a form of dilated cardiomyopathy in which no other cause of heart weakening can be found.
It may occur in pregnant people of any age, but it is most common after age 30.
Risk factors for the condition include:
Symptoms may include:
A woman may need to stay in the hospital until acute symptoms subside.
Because it is very often possible to restore heart function, and the women who have this condition are often young and otherwise healthy, care is often aggressive.
When severe symptoms occur, this may include extreme steps such as:
For most women, however, treatment mainly focuses on relieving the symptoms. Some symptoms go away on their own without treatment.
Medicines that are often used include:
A low-salt diet may be recommended. Fluid may be restricted in some cases. Activities, including nursing the baby, may be limited when symptoms develop.
Daily weighing may be recommended. A weight gain of 3 to 4 pounds (1.5 to 2 kilograms) or more over 1 or 2 days may be a sign of fluid buildup.
Women who smoke and drink alcohol will be advised to stop, since these habits may make the symptoms worse.
Erin Michos is a Cardiologist in Odenton, Maryland. Dr. Michos has been practicing medicine for over 23 years and is rated as a Distinguished doctor by MediFind in the treatment of Peripartum Cardiomyopathy. She is also highly rated in 26 other conditions, according to our data. Her top areas of expertise are Atherosclerosis, Vitamin D Deficiency, Heart Failure, Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI), and Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR). Dr. Michos is currently accepting new patients.
Anum Minhas is a Cardiologist in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Minhas is rated as a Distinguished doctor by MediFind in the treatment of Peripartum Cardiomyopathy. She is also highly rated in 3 other conditions, according to our data. Her top areas of expertise are Peripartum Cardiomyopathy, Pulmonary Edema, Cardiomyopathy, and COVID-19.
John Boehmer is a Cardiologist and an Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiologist in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Dr. Boehmer has been practicing medicine for over 37 years and is rated as a Distinguished doctor by MediFind in the treatment of Peripartum Cardiomyopathy. He is also highly rated in 12 other conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Heart Failure, Cardiomyopathy, Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM), and Peripartum Cardiomyopathy. Dr. Boehmer is currently accepting new patients.
There are several possible outcomes in peripartum cardiomyopathy. Some women remain stable for long periods, while others get worse slowly.
Others get worse very quickly and may be candidates for a heart transplant. About 4% of people will require heart transplantation and 9% may die suddenly or die from complications of the procedure.
The outlook is good when a woman's heart returns to normal after the baby is born. If the heart remains abnormal, future pregnancies may result in heart failure. It is not known how to predict who will recover and who will develop severe heart failure. Up to about one half of women will recover completely.
Women who develop peripartum cardiomyopathy are at high risk of developing the same problem with future pregnancies. The rate of recurrence is about 30%. Therefore, women who have had this condition should discuss birth control methods with their provider.
Complications include:
Contact your provider if you are currently pregnant or have recently delivered a baby and think you may have signs of cardiomyopathy.
Get medical help right away if you develop chest pain, palpitations, faintness, or other new or unexplained symptoms.
Eat a well-balanced diet and get regular exercise to help keep your heart strong. Avoid cigarettes and alcohol. Your provider may advise you to avoid getting pregnant again if you have had heart failure during a previous pregnancy.
Summary: The study will enroll 200 women newly diagnosed with peripartum cardiomyopathy within 5 months postpartum in a randomized placebo controlled trial of bromocriptine therapy to evaluate its impact on myocardial recovery and clinical outcomes. Given that bromocriptine prevents breastfeeding, an additional 50 women with peripartum cardiomyopathy excluded from the trial due to a desire to continue brea...
Published Date: May 08, 2022
Published By: Michael A. Chen, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington Medical School, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
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