Peripartum cardiomyopathy: A 5-year retrospective study in a tertiary care center, India

Abstract

Objectives: To study the clinical presentation, course and maternal outcome in pregnancy in Peripartum Cardiomyopathy. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted over a period of 5 years and a total of 21 number of peripartum cardiomyopathy cases were collected, in ESIC medical college, Bangalore. Data collected included the age of the patient, past obstetric history, gestational age, clinical symptoms, risk factors, diagnosis, medical management and maternal outcome and were analyzed in SPSS 10 software. Results: In the study we found that the prevalence of peripartum cardiomyopathy was 0.07% (21/16,866). The maximum age group fell between 20 to 30 years 16(76.1%), 11(52.3%) were primigravidae, 5(23.8%) had pre-eclampsia and none of the patients had gestational diabetes. The echocardiography parameters were studied, diagnosis made and management planned accordingly. Conclusion: PPCM is diagnosed by excluding the other conditions. Predominantly young women are affected. The associated risk factors are pre eclampsia and hypertension. Complications like cardiac arrhythmias, thromboembolism and refractory heart failure are very common and future pregnancies should be avoided.