Abstract
Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a life-threatening, pregnancy-associated heart disease that develops towards the end of pregnancy or in the first months following delivery in previously healthy women. Understanding of the pathophysiology has progressed in recent years, highlighting an oxidative-stress mediated cleavage of the nursing hormone prolactin into a toxic 16-kDa prolactin fragment as a major factor driving the disease. The 16-kDa prolactin fragment induces detrimental but potentially reversible effects on heart function. Bromocriptine, a clinically-approved drug to block prolactin release, was initially tested in a PPCM mouse model where it efficiently prevented the onset of PPCM. Consequently, this treatment concept was transferred to and successfully used in humans as a bench-tobedside approach. Encouraging proof-of-concept studies led to a randomised trial that further strengthens the role of bromocriptine in addition to standard heart failure therapy in clinical practice. The aim of this article is to summarise this novel and disease-specific medical treatment, along with current knowledge on the epidemiology and pathophysiology of PPCM.
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