Magnesium deficiency and dilated cardiomyopathy diagnosed peripartum.

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Dilated cardiomyopathy in pregnancy, whether diagnosed pre-conception, or occurring de novo during pregnancy, may be associated with significant maternal morbidity and mortality. Hypomagnesaemia is associated with ventricular arrhythmias and may be a risk factor for heart failure, coronary artery disease and atrial fibrillation in the general population. Pregnancy is associated with a progressive physiological fall in serum magnesium concentration. Intracellular magnesium deficiency may exist despite normal serum magnesium concentration. Three cases of dilated cardiomyopathy developing in the peripartum period with hypomagnesaemia are presented. The literature regarding associations between magnesium deficiency and dilated cardiomyopathy is reviewed. Potential future research examining magnesium deficiency as a potential contributor to dilated cardiomyopathy in pregnancy is proposed, and possible implications for management are discussed.