Peripartum is a recognized cause of which cardiomyopathy?

Peripartum is a recognized cause of which cardiomyopathy?

• A. Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM)
• B. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
• C. Restrictive cardiomyopathy
• D. Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy

Answer: (A)

Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a form of dilated cardiomyopathy that begins in the last month of pregnancy or within several months after delivery, presenting with new-onset left ventricular systolic dysfunction and dilation in the absence of another identifiable cause. This ties the condition to dilated cardiomyopathy because the hallmark is impaired systolic function with an enlarged ventricle rather than the ideas of thickened walls seen in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, stiff ventricles seen in restrictive cardiomyopathy, or fibro-fatty changes of the right ventricle seen in arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. In peripartum cases, the heart failure symptoms arise specifically in the peripartum window, and management focuses on standard heart failure therapies adapted for pregnancy when applicable, with careful monitoring for recovery, which occurs in a substantial number of patients but can be variable.

Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a form of dilated cardiomyopathy that begins in the last month of pregnancy or within several months after delivery, presenting with new-onset left ventricular systolic dysfunction and dilation in the absence of another identifiable cause. This ties the condition to dilated cardiomyopathy because the hallmark is impaired systolic function with an enlarged ventricle rather than the ideas of thickened walls seen in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, stiff ventricles seen in restrictive cardiomyopathy, or fibro-fatty changes of the right ventricle seen in arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. In peripartum cases, the heart failure symptoms arise specifically in the peripartum window, and management focuses on standard heart failure therapies adapted for pregnancy when applicable, with careful monitoring for recovery, which occurs in a substantial number of patients but can be variable.