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Peripartum Cardiomyopathy: a Review

  • Heart Failure (A Marie Chang, Section Editor))
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is an important condition with high morbidity and mortality worldwide. Patients with PPCM are at risk of developing lifelong cardiac disease, requiring regular management and medical intervention. This article conducts a review of recent literature and gives insight into this disease.

Recent Findings

There is promising research in the fields of vascular, hormonal, and genetics. A number of genetic markers are being analyzed, including TTNC1, TTN, and STAT3. Mutations to these genes have been found to be prevalent in PPCM. These combined with the secretion of placental angiogenic factors potentially create imbalance in angiogenesis as the primary etiology.

Summary

Current biomarkers do not differentiate between PPCM and other variants of heart failure. Women with PPCM are more likely to have a cesarean section, to have hypertensive disease, at greater risk of major adverse cardiac events, and to have lifelong morbidity.

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Emergency Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 S.W. Sam Jackson Park Rd MC CR114, Portland, OR, 97239-3098, USA

    Lindsay C. Ballard & Bory Kea

  2. School of Medicine, University of Notre Dame, 32 Mouat St, Fremantle, WA, 6160, Australia

    Adrian Cois

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  1. Lindsay C. Ballard
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Correspondence to Bory Kea.

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Conflict of Interest

Lindsay Ballard and Adrian Cois declare no conflict of interest.

Bory Kea is a site investigator for Ortho Clinical Diagnostics; no funds were directly received. Dr. Kea also received a grant through the NHLBI K08 Career Development Award.

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Ballard, L.C., Cois, A. & Kea, B. Peripartum Cardiomyopathy: a Review. Curr Emerg Hosp Med Rep 7, 127–134 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40138-019-00192-3

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