[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/12\/peripartum-cardiomyopathy-50ph\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/12\/peripartum-cardiomyopathy-50ph\/","headline":"Peripartum Cardiomyopathy: Understanding a Rare, Pregnancy-Related Heart Condition","name":"Peripartum Cardiomyopathy: Understanding a Rare, Pregnancy-Related Heart Condition","description":"Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a rare, life-threatening form of heart failure that affects pregnant women or women who have just given birth. It affects about 1,000 to 1,300 women in the United States each year, according to the American Heart Association. \u201cIt is one of the officially recognized rare diseases in the U.S.,\u201d says Ravi […]","datePublished":"2019-12-04","dateModified":"2022-04-12","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/heart-vascular","name":"Heart and Vascular Institute","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/heart-vascular","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/heart-and-vascular-institute\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Peripartum-Cardiomyopathy_blg.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Peripartum-Cardiomyopathy_blg.jpg","height":325,"width":754},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/12\/peripartum-cardiomyopathy-50ph\/","about":["Health Topics A-Z","Heart and Vascular Health"],"wordCount":707,"articleBody":"Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a rare, life-threatening form of heart failure that affects pregnant women or women who have just given birth. It affects about 1,000 to 1,300 women in the United States each year, according to the American Heart Association.\u201cIt is one of the officially recognized rare diseases in the U.S.,\u201d says Ravi Ramani, a cardiologist and director of the UPMC Integrated Heart Failure Program.PPCM more commonly is found in developing countries, but the incidence is rising in the United States. Recent estimates put cases of PPCM at 1 in 2,230 births in the United States, and 1 in 1,000 births worldwide.What Is Peripartum Cardiomyopathy?PPCM occurs when the function of the left ventricle is disrupted. The ventricle ejects a lower percentage of blood when the heart contracts, which leads to less blood flow. This then causes the body\u2019s other organs to receive less oxygen.Most cases of PPCM are diagnosed in the late third trimester or up to five months after delivery.Outcomes vary widely, from a return to normal function to sudden heart failure and death. Patients may need a ventricular assist device or heart transplant.Who Is at Risk of Peripartum Cardiomyopathy?The cause of PPCM is unknown and under investigation. However, several factors can put women at greater risk:Age: Women over the age of 30 are more likely to develop PPCM.Race: Black women show a higher rate of PPCM.Multiple gestations: Rates of PPCM are higher in pregnancies with multiple births.Other pregnancy conditions: Preeclampsia and hypertension put women at greater risk for PPCM.History of heart conditions: People with other heart conditions, such as myocarditis, are at higher risk.Obesity.Smoking.Alcohol.Poor nutrition.What Are the Symptoms of Peripartum Cardiomyopathy?PPCM symptoms can mirror those of a normal pregnancy. They include:Fatigue.Heart palpitations.Increased urination at night.Shortness of breath.Cough.Swollen ankles.Swollen veins in neck.Low blood pressure.Irregular heartbeat.Coughing up blood.Chest and abdominal discomfort.\u201cThose are pretty much symptoms that a lot of women go through during a normal pregnancy,\u201d Dr. Ramani says. \u201cSo the diagnosis can be hard in a lot of women. A lot of physicians tend to miss these signs because they overlap significantly with what a normal pregnancy is.\u201dHow Is Peripartum Cardiomyopathy Diagnosed?Most diagnosis of PPCM takes place after pregnancy \u2013 even if the heart failure develops during pregnancy.Dr. Ramani says the diagnosis takes the patient\u2019s history and the scale of the symptoms into account. If a patient is still showing some of the pregnancy-related symptoms after delivery, that\u2019s one sign of PPCM. The typical diagnostic test is an echocardiogram, which can show decreased function. If no other cause can be found for the heart failure, that leads to a PPCM diagnosis.\u201cJust because it\u2019s happening at that particular time, doesn\u2019t necessarily mean it\u2019s peripartum cardiomyopathy,\u201d Dr. Ramani says. \u201cIt could be something else that just happened and could be coincidental with the pregnancy.\u201dHow Is Peripartum Cardiomyopathy Treated?The treatment for PPCM depends on the severity of the condition.Typically, the first course of treatment is with medication, to see if the patient\u2019s heart improves. Medications include:ACE inhibitorsBeta blockersDiureticsDigitalisBlood thinnersDoctors must be careful what they prescribe, Dr. Ramani says. Some medications can harm the unborn baby or cause problems for women who are breastfeeding.If medication doesn\u2019t help the heart to return to normal function, more treatment is required. That can include a ventricular assist device, or in the most severe cases, a heart transplant. About 5 percent of heart transplants for women in the United States are for peripartum cardiomyopathy, according to Obstetrics and Gynecology.UPMC\u2019s Heart and Vascular Institute and UPMC Magee-Women\u2019s Hospital\u2019s Department of Maternal Fetal Medicine work together on high-risk cardiovascular pregnancies and births. That includes PPTM. The two departments co-manage the health of the mother and child from diagnosis through treatment.The Heart and Vascular Institute at UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside ranks among the best hospitals in the U.S. for heart care and surgery, according to U.S. News and World Report.Editor's Note: This article was originally published on December 4, 2019, and was last reviewed on April 12, 2022."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2019","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"12","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/\/12\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Peripartum Cardiomyopathy: Understanding a Rare, Pregnancy-Related Heart Condition","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/12\/peripartum-cardiomyopathy-50ph\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]