Abstract
Pregnancy is considered one of the most delicate conditions for the woman and her fetus, rendering physiological stress on her body. Sometimes, this leads to unwelcomed incidences of certain systemic disorders which further complicate the course of pregnancy. Cardiovascular conditions associated with pregnancy have major morbidity amongst the general population. Peripartum cardiomyopathy, one such condition associated with cardiac dysfunction during pregnancy, is one of the major causes of increased morbidity and mortality in pregnant women. It has been the leading cause of non-obstetric maternal mortality. Due to the stress on the cardiovascular system, further functioning of the body in the milieu gets compromised and thus, the occurrence of fetomaternal mortality is not rare in the prognosis of this condition. Certain studies have noted not only familial but also geographical variations in the prevalence of peripartum cardiomyopathy in certain areas. Although the occurrence of the condition is quite common, there still needs to be a better understanding of this topic for avoiding the abysmal prognosis of this pathology. A peculiar presentation on the electrogram is needed to make an accurate diagnosis of the condition. The therapeutic options of this condition, particularly incline towards medical management. Various new drugs have been formulated and are in clinical trials for testing their effectiveness. Bromocriptine therapy, along with the neoadjuvant combination of anticoagulant drugs and non-pharmacological measures, makes a good treatment regimen that helps avert the progressive pathology. In this article, we discuss the knowledge regarding the etiology, factors contributing to the severity, pathogenesis, treatment options, and the particular outcomes of the therapy.
Highlights
BackgroundPregnancy is associated with various multi-systemic disorders, the leading systemic disorder amongst them is cardiovascular disorder
Peripartum cardiomyopathy is associated with high mortality rates and is often misdiagnosed, the clear knowledge regarding its etiology, pathogenesis, and management has not been discussed in depth
Peripartum cardiomyopathy is an important cardiovascular disease affecting the peripartum period which may lead to adverse outcomes
Summary
Pregnancy is associated with various multi-systemic disorders, the leading systemic disorder amongst them is cardiovascular disorder. Peripartum cardiomyopathy is often associated with other cardiac events such as left ventricular systolic dysfunction. This systolic dysfunction leads to vascular disturbances and the effective blood flow to the growing fetus could be compromised. Amongst the various cardiovascular disorders affecting fetal health during pregnancy, peripartum cardiomyopathy depicts a rather varied course of presentation. The research on this pathology has been limited due to the ambiguous medical presentation. The diagnostic criteria for peripartum cardiomyopathy include [6]: 1) Cardiac failure which occurs in a previously healthy woman during the last month of pregnancy or during the first five months following delivery.
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