Maternal Heart

Advances in peripartum myocardiopathy

Abstract

Peripartum Cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a rare but serious condition, with a lower incidence compared to other cardiomyopathies. It has a multifactorial etiology and is associated with heart failure due to ventricular dysfunction, manifesting during the perinatal period or in the months following childbirth. This pathology requires special attention due to its impact on young women of reproductive age and its association with poor prognosis.Recent advances in the understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms involved in PPCM have been revealing, steering research toward the development of targeted therapies for the disease. The standard treatment for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction in the general population is generally applicable to patients with PPCM, with careful consideration of fetal safety during and after pregnancy. Currently, bromocriptine has emerged as a potential disease-specific therapy for PPCM; however, further evidence is needed to support its widespread use.

Although most patients recover ventricular function during follow-up, persistent ventricular dysfunction is not uncommon and remains a major concern