Peripartum cardiomyopathy
Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a condition in which a weak heart is detected in the final month of pregnancy or upto 5 months postpartum. This disorder is rare but resembles dilated cardiomyopathy in most respects.
In the United States, one in every 3000 deliveries is complicated by the presence of peripartum cardiomyopathy. It has been found to occur in women of childbearing age but is most common in women older than 30 years of age.
Peripartum cardiomyopathy
The cause of peripartum cardiomyopathy is mainly unknown though low selenium levels, auto-immune reactions and myocarditis have been blamed.
Peripartum cardiomyopathy has been found to have a much higher incidence in women who have given birth to two or more children and has been reported specifically in women with twins. This leads to the view that peripartum cardiomyopathy may be caused due to prior exposure to fetal antigens which cause a myocardial inflammatory reaction.
Other risk factors contributing to peripartum cardiomyopathy include obesity, smoking, alcoholism, malnourishment, some drugs and medication, more than one pregnancies and a personal or family history of cardiac problems. It has also been found to be more common in African-Americans.
Typical symptoms of peripartum cardiomyopathy are fatigue, nocturia (increased night-time urination), swelling of ankles and other body tissues, shortness of breath especially on exertion and heart palpitations.
The diagnosis of peripartum cardiomyopathy will be based on certain signs observed by the physician on examination. The doctor might look for signs of a rapid heart beat or abnormal sounds from the heart, signs of fluid accumulation in the lungs (checked by tapping with the fingers) and listening for lung crackles.
The physician, while examining the patient for peripartum cardiomyopathy, may find the veins in the neck swollen and the liver enlarged, signs of heart enlargement, low blood pressure (especially when the patient stands up) or lung congestion and will then resort to x-rays, echo-cardiograms and coronary angiography to evaluate th progress of peripartum cardiomyopathy and then commence treatment.
The treatment for peripartum cardiomyopathy is the same as for other dilative heart conditions and will usually consist of diuretics, digitalis( to strengthen the heart muscles) and low doses of beta-blockers.