Korean J Perinatol.  2006 Mar;17(1):50-53.

Peripartum Cardiomyopathy: Review of Cases during a 10-year Period, Between 1995 and 2004

• Park CH

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To review and characterize the initial presentation and risk factors of peripartum cardiomyopahty. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 28 women with a history of heart disease confirmed by echocardiography during pregnancy or the postpartum period between 1995 and 2004. RESULTS: Of a total of 28 women with a history of heart disease during pregnancy or the postpartum period, 15 women met traditional criteria of peripartum cardiomyopathy. Mean age of 32.5+/-6.5 years and common associated conditions were preeclampsia (40%), twin pregnancy (33.3%), preterm labor (20%), and myocarditis (6.7%). 5 of them (33.3%) including postpartum uterine atony (13.3%) had had ICU care but no deaths occurred (0% mortality) and all of them (100%) had regression of cardiomyopathy. CONCLUSION: Cardiomyopathy acoounts for an increasing proportion of reported pregnancy-related deaths in western countries, but we experienced no mortality from peripartum cardiomyopathy during a 10-year period. Further studies are required to identify risk factors and racial disparity.

Keyword

Peripartum cardiomyopathy

MeSH Terms

Cardiomyopathies*
Echocardiography
Female
Heart Diseases
Humans
Medical Records
Mortality
Myocarditis
Obstetric Labor, Premature
Peripartum Period*
Postpartum Period
Pre-Eclampsia
Pregnancy
Pregnancy, Twin
Risk Factors
Uterine Inertia