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Clin Rheumatol 2019 Jan 11. Epub 2019 Jan 11.

Zabludowicz Center for Autoimmune Diseases, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Aviv University, 5265601, Tel Hashomer, Israel.

The sexual dimorphic prevalence of autoimmunity represents one of the most alluring observations among the mosaic of autoimmunity. Sex hormones are believed to be a mainstay of this asymmetry. The greater prevalence of autoimmunity among fertile women, disease onset/relapses during pregnancy, and postpartum are some of the points that support this theory. Read More

Kardiologiia 2018 Dec 14;58(11S):33-45. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

State Institution Republican Science and Practice Center «Cardiology».

Left ventricular non-compaction (LVNC) is characterized by hypertrabecularity (thickened non-compact layer) with deep intertrabecular recesses that are continuous with the ventricle cavity, and a thin compact layer. The phenotypes of LVNС are extremely variable: the left or right ventricular variant, biventricular form, LVNC with symptoms of heart failure or arrhythmia, asymptomatic forms or variants with thromboembolic events. In 30-50 % of patients with LVNC genetic mutations of genes encoding sarcomeric or cytoskeletal proteins are revealed by a genetic study. Read More

Cardiol Res Pract 2018 29;2018:7373610. Epub 2018 Nov 29.

Arrhythmias and Electrophysiology Unit, Department of Cardiology, University Heart Center Zurich, University Hospital Zurich, Rämistrasse 100, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland.

Background: Wearable cardioverter-defibrillators (WCD, LifeVest, ZOLL) can protect from sudden cardiac death bridging a vulnerable period until a decision on implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation can be reached. WCD is commonly used for 3 months or less. It is unknown, which patients use WCD longer and which patients are most likely to benefit from it. Read More

Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2019 Jan 8. Epub 2019 Jan 8.

Pharmacodynamics, University of Florida, United States.

Our laboratory has previously shown in an ovine model of pregnancy that abnormal elevations in maternal cortisol during late gestation lead to increased fetal cardiac arrhythmias and mortality during peripartum. Furthermore, transcriptomic analysis of the fetal heart suggested alterations in TCA cycle intermediates and lipid metabolites in animals exposed to excess cortisol in utero. Therefore, we utilized a sheep model of pregnancy to determine how chronic increases in maternal cortisol alter maternal and fetal serum prior to birth and neonatal cardiac metabolites and lipids at term. Read More

Front Immunol 2018 19;9:3029. Epub 2018 Dec 19.

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States.

The transcription factor STAT3 has a protective function in the heart. Until recently, the role of STAT3 in hypertension-induced cardiac hypertrophy was unsettled. Earlier studies revealed that global reduction of STAT3 activity reduced cardiac hypertrophy with hypertension, but caused a disruption of myofilaments and increased contractile dysfunction. Read More

Arch Cardiovasc Dis 2018 Dec 26. Epub 2018 Dec 26.

Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University Medical Center, State University of New York, Stony Brook, Nichols road, 11794 NY, United States of America. Electronic address:

There is limited information about differences in maternal deaths from peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) between advanced and developing countries. To review the literature to define the global prevalence of death from PPCM, and to determine the differences in PPCM mortality rates and risk factors between advanced and developing countries. Studies in the English language reporting mortality data on patients with PPCM were included from searches of MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, the Cochrane Library, the Web of Science Core Collection and Scopus from 01 January 2000 to 11 May 2016. Read More

PLoS One 2018 26;13(12):e0208931. Epub 2018 Dec 26.

St. Francis Referral Hospital, Ifakara, United Republic of Tanzania.

Background: Little is known about heart diseases and their treatment in rural sub-Saharan Africa. This study aimed to describe the occurrence, characteristics, and etiologies of heart diseases, and the medication taken before and prescribed after echocardiography in a rural referral Hospital in Tanzania.

Methods: This prospective descriptive cohort study included all adults and children referred for echocardiography. Read More

Indian Heart J 2018 Nov - Dec;70(6):887-893. Epub 2017 Dec 11.

Department of Biochemistry, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, P.M.B. 2346, Sokoto, Nigeria.

Background: The customary puerperal practice of Natron consumption has been identified as one of the predisposing factors in the etiology of peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM). This study was designed to investigate the effect of Natron in postpartum Wistar albino rats.

Methods: A total of 30 postpartum Wistar rats were exposed to different doses (50mg/kg, 100mg/kg, 200mg/kg and 300mg/kg) of Natron for 28days. Read More

Obstet Gynecol 2019 Jan;133(1):167-179

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, Texas.

Peripartum cardiomyopathy is defined by left ventricular dysfunction and development of cardiac failure without a known cause and occurring in the final month of pregnancy and up to 5 months postpartum. Peripartum cardiomyopathy is an important and steadily increasing cause of pregnancy-associated morbidity and mortality. The incidence of peripartum cardiomyopathy in the United States has been estimated recently as 1 in 2,230 births and approximately 1 in 1,000 births worldwide. Read More

Circulation 2018 Dec;138(23):2721-2723

Neufeld Cardiac Research Institute (N.N.-S., N.M., U.A., L.-a.Z, A.L., J.L.), Tel-Aviv University, Israel.

Intern Med 2018 Dec 18. Epub 2018 Dec 18.

Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, Japan.

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is rare but life-threatening. We herein report the case of a 48-year-old woman with PPCM after oocyte donation and delivery of twins. Two weeks after delivery, she suffered from severe symptoms of heart failure [orthopnea, New York Heart Association (NYHA) class IV, pulmonary edema and a reduced left ventricular ejection fraction of 18%]. Read More

ESC Heart Fail 2018 Nov 22. Epub 2018 Nov 22.

Montreal Heart Institute, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Aims: Bromocriptine is thought to facilitate left ventricular (LV) recovery in peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) through inhibition of prolactin secretion. However, this potential therapeutic effect remains controversial and was incompletely studied in diverse populations.

Methods And Results: Consecutive women with new-onset PPCM (n = 76) between 1994 and 2015 in Quebec, Canada, were classified according to treatment (n = 8, 11%) vs. Read More

Int J Cardiol 2019 Feb 7;276:177-184. Epub 2018 Nov 7.

University of Cape Town, Hatter Institute for Cardiovascular Research in Africa, Cape Town, South Africa. Electronic address:

Background: Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is an important cause of pregnancy-associated heart failure, which appears in previously healthy women towards the end of pregnancy or within five months following delivery. Although the ECG is widely used in clinical practice, its prognostic value has not been established in PPCM.

Methods: We analysed 12-lead ECGs of patients with PPCM, taken at index presentation and follow-up visits at 6 and 12 months. Read More

AJP Rep 2018 Oct 21;8(4):e335-e342. Epub 2018 Nov 21.

Irvine Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California, Orange, California.

 This study is to review published cases of peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) treated with bromocriptine and outline pros and cons of the treatment strategy.  Data were collected from PubMed/MedLine, ClinicalTrials.gov; the years 2007 to 2018 were searched for English-language articles. Read More

Front Biosci (Landmark Ed) 2019 01 1;24:48-95. Epub 2019 Jan 1.

Berlin Cures GmbH Berlin, Knesebeckstrasse 59-61, 10719 Berlin, Germany,

In the 1970s, autoantibodies directed against G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCR, GPCR-AAB) were discovered. After receptor binding, GPCR-AAB trigger uncontrolled receptor mediated signal cascades, thus producing pathologies. Diseases associated with such functionally active autoantibody type (functional autoantibodies) can be called "functional autoantibody diseases". Read More

J Obstet Gynaecol Res 2018 Nov 22. Epub 2018 Nov 22.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hyogo College of Medicine, Nishinomiya, Japan.

Resuscitative hysterotomy (RH) is a resuscitation technique, allowing the restoration of a pregnant patient's heartbeat. Here, we reported a case of RH performed in a patient with cardiac arrest as a complication of a peripartum cardiomyopathy. A 29-year-old woman with suspected hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelet syndrome was admitted to the hospital. Read More

Herz 2018 Dec;43(8):710-718

Institut für Geschlechterforschung in der Medizin (GiM) und Center for Cardiovascular Research (CCR), Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Hessische Str. 3-4, 10115, Berlin, Deutschland.

Heart diseases are the most common cause of maternal death during pregnancy in Western countries. The current ESC guidelines 2018 for the management of cardiovascular diseases during pregnancy is a guide for any physician facing the challenge of caring for pregnant women with cardiovascular diseases. Among the new concepts compared to 2011, are recommendations to classify maternal risk due to the modified World Health Organization (mWHO) classification, introduction of the pregnancy heart team, guidance on assisted reproductive therapy, specific recommendations on anticoagulation for low-dose and high-dose requirements of vitamin K antagonists and the potential use of bromocriptine in peripartum cardiomyopathy. Read More

Heart Fail Clin 2019 Jan 25;15(1):29-39. Epub 2018 Oct 25.

Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 200 1st Street Southwest, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.

Occurring in approximately 1 in 1000 live births in the United States, peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is characterized by left ventricular ejection fraction reduced to less than 45% near the end of pregnancy or within the first 5 months after delivery. Although the cause of PPCM remains unclear, increasing evidence supports a complex interaction of genetic and environmental factors contributing to angiogenic imbalance, which may lead to myocardial dysfunction in a susceptible woman. This article reviews the progress that has been made regarding understanding of the cause, management, and natural history of PPCM. Read More

Med Hypotheses 2018 Dec 19;121:149-151. Epub 2018 Sep 19.

"Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania; "Sf. Ioan" Clinical Emergency Hospital, Internal Medicine Department, Romania. Electronic address:

Pregnancy is characterized by complex physiological changes of the cardiovascular system. B-type natriuretic peptides, represented by the bioactive molecule (BNP) and its inactive amino terminal fragment (NT-proBNP) are important biomarkers used in the management of the heart failure. Besides cardiac causes, BNP can grow in other noncardiac conditions such as pregnancy. Read More

J Surg Case Rep 2018 Oct 26;2018(10):rjy285. Epub 2018 Oct 26.

Department of Cardiac Surgery, Asahikawa Medical University, Midorigaoka Higashi 2-1-1-1, Asahikawa, Hokkaido, Japan.

Since its introduction in Japan in 1980, the extracorporeal left ventricular assist device has been used as a bridge to the recovery of cardiac function or to heart transplantation by many institutions. In this case report, we describe a 23-year-old female with peripartum cardiomyopathy. She had a persistently low cardiac index despite intensive care with intravenous inotropes, intra-aortic balloon pumping and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; thus, we implanted an extracorporeal left ventricular assist device. Read More

North Clin Istanb 2018 30;5(2):145-147. Epub 2018 Mar 30.

Department of Cardiology, Atatürk University Faculty of Medicine, Erzurum, Turkey.

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCMP) is a rare and life-threatening condition. Intracardiac thrombus is characteristically associated with increased adverse events, mortality, and a high risk of thromboembolic events, and has been associated with PPCMP. Early diagnosis and treatment play a critical role. Read More

J Am Heart Assoc 2018 Oct;7(20):e008991

2 Department of Cardiology Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet Copenhagen Denmark.

Background Long-term clinical studies of peripartum cardiomyopathy ( PPCM ) are few. We aimed to measure the long-term effect of PPCM on cardiac function in comparison with the long-term effects of severe preeclampsia and uncomplicated pregnancy. Methods and Results A nationwide Danish cohort of women diagnosed with PPCM from 2005 to 2014 ( PPCM group) were invited to participate in a clinical follow-up study including maximal cardiopulmonary exercise testing and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. Read More

Curr Heart Fail Rep 2018 Dec;15(6):368-375

Rhythmology and Electrophysiology, Department of Cardiology and Angiology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany.

Purpose Of Review: The wearable defibrillator (WCD) was shown to be safe and effective in detecting and terminating ventricular tachyarrhythmias and therefore allows temporary protection from sudden cardiac death. This review gives an overview of the current data on WCD in newly diagnosed cardiomyopathy.

Recent Findings: Patients with newly diagnosed heart failure and reduced LVEF appear to have an increased risk of ventricular tachyarrhythmias, which may decrease over time when heart failure medication is optimized and left ventricular function improves. Read More

Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol 2018 Dec;30(6):378-384

Heart Failure Unit, AORN Colli, Naples, Italy.

Purpose Of Review: To discuss the risk preexisting or new onset cardiomyopathy/heart failure (CMP/heart failure) in pregnant woman, and recent insights regarding their management and therapy.

Recent Findings: Recent data from the European Registry on Pregnancy and Heart disease of the European Society of Cardiology (ROPAC) suggest that, after an adequate prepregnancy evaluation in specialized centres, the vast majority of pregnancies are safe for both mother and foetus. A tailored approach is required according to cardiac phenotype (i. Read More

J Cardiol Cases 2018 Jun 21;17(6):200-203. Epub 2018 Mar 21.

Oita Prefectural Hospital, Oita-ken, Japan.

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is an idiopathic left ventricular dysfunction in women who are in late pregnancy or the postpartum period. PPCM is a rare but sometimes fatal disease, and mechanical circulatory support is required if heart failure is refractory to conventional therapy. A 28-year-old woman in late pregnancy was admitted to our hospital due to congestive heart failure with cardiogenic shock. Read More

J Cardiovasc Nurs 2019 Jan/Feb;34(1):20-28

Lindsey Rosman, PhD Research Fellow, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut. Elena Salmoirago-Blotcher, MD, PhD Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Brown University Medical School & The Miriam Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island. John Cahill, MD Associate Professor, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina. Samuel F. Sears, PhD Professor, Departments of Cardiovascular Sciences and Psychology, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina.

Background: Psychological distress can adversely affect heart failure prognosis, yet the immediate and ongoing challenges faced by women diagnosed with peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) are not well studied.

Objective: We examined psychological distress and quality of life in a large, national sample of patients with PPCM and evaluated whether these characteristics differ among newly diagnosed (0-1 year), short-term (2-4 years), and long-term (5-10 years) survivors.

Methods: One hundred forty-nine patients with PPCM (mean age, 33. Read More

Eur Heart J 2018 Nov;39(43):3905

Department of Cardiology and Angiology, Medical School Hannover, Germany.

Eur Heart J 2018 Nov;39(43):3904

Hospital Albert Schweitzer, Department Internal Medicine, Deschapelles, Haiti.

Curr Treat Options Cardiovasc Med 2018 Sep 29;20(11):91. Epub 2018 Sep 29.

Knight Cardiovascular Institute, Oregon Health and Sciences University, 3181 Sam Jackson Park Road, UHN 62, Portland, OR, 97239, USA.

Purpose Of Review: This review summarizes the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM), with a focus on recent discoveries of clinical relevance.

Recent Findings: An increase in oxidative stress and anti-angiogenic activity play key roles in the pathophysiology of peripartum cardiomyopathy. Therapies that target this dysregulation may have a future role in treatment. Read More

J Extra Corpor Technol 2018 09;50(3):189-192

NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, Brooklyn, New York.

Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a potentially life-threatening cause of heart failure (HF) that affects women toward the end of pregnancy or in months after delivery. Treatment is similar to the treatment for HF with reduced ejection fraction (EF). Most women make full myocardial function recovery within 6 months on conventional HF therapy. Read More

Trends Cardiovasc Med 2018 Sep 6. Epub 2018 Sep 6.

Molecular Cardiology, Department of Cardiology and Angiology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1,Hannover 30625, Germany.

NPJ Precis Oncol 2018 8;2:13. Epub 2018 May 8.

2Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN USA.

Angiogenesis inhibitors targeting the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling pathway (VSP) have been important additions in the therapy of various cancers, especially renal cell carcinoma and colorectal cancer. Bevazicumab, the first VSP to receive FDA approval in 2004 targeting all circulating isoforms of VEGF-A, has become one of the best-selling drugs of all times. The second wave of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), which target the intracellular site of VEGF receptor kinases, began with the approval of sorafenib in 2005 and sunitinib in 2006. Read More

J Card Fail 2018 Oct 5;24(10):711-715. Epub 2018 Sep 5.

Division of General Internal Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Temple University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Center for Cardiovascular Outcomes, Quality, and Evaluative Research, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Background: Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is an important cause of obstetrical morbidity. Few large national studies have investigated the cardiovascular outcomes of women with PPCM, particularly beyond the immediate postpartum period. We examined the cardiovascular outcomes of 1-year survivors of PPCM in a large commercially insured population. Read More

Am J Perinatol 2018 Sep 5. Epub 2018 Sep 5.

Heart, Lung, Blood and Vascular Medicine Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Objective:  To examine the association between maternal obesity on left ventricular (LV) size and recovery in women with peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM).

Study Design:  This was a prospective analysis of 100 women enrolled within 13 weeks of PPCM diagnosis and followed for a year in the Investigation of Pregnancy Associated Cardiomyopathy study. Adiposity was defined by standard body mass index (BMI) definitions for under/normal weight, overweight, and obesity. Read More

Pregnancy Hypertens 2018 Jul 30;13:273-278. Epub 2018 Jun 30.

Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States. Electronic address:

Objective: Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) can present during pregnancy and up to months post-delivery. Most large-scale epidemiologic studies have reported on cases occurring during pregnancy or the first few days postpartum (termPPCM). Limited information is available on PPCM in the later postpartum period (latePPCM). Read More

Korean Circ J 2018 Sep;48(9):792-812

CHARITÉ Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Institute of Gender in Medicine and CCR, and DZHK (partner site Berlin), Berlin, Germany.

Biological sex (being female or male) significantly influences the course of disease. This simple fact must be considered in all cardiovascular diagnosis and therapy. However, major gaps in knowledge about and awareness of cardiovascular disease in women still impede the implementation of sex-specific strategies. Read More

Circ J 2018 Sep 17;82(10):2689. Epub 2018 Aug 17.

University of Southern California.

Clin Res Cardiol 2018 Aug 18. Epub 2018 Aug 18.

Department of Cardiology and Angiology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany.

Background: Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction predicts adverse outcome in peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM). We recently demonstrated beneficial effects associated with the prolactin release inhibitor bromocriptine at different doses when added to standard heart failure therapy in PPCM. Here, we evaluated for the first time the therapeutic potential of bromocriptine particularly in PPCM patients with RV involvement. Read More

Trends Cardiovasc Med 2018 Aug 1. Epub 2018 Aug 1.

Department of Medicine, Brown University, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI, USA.

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a potentially life-threatening pregnancy-associated disease that typically arises in the peripartum period. While the disease is relatively uncommon, its incidence is rising. It is a form of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, defined as pregnancy-related left ventricular dysfunction, diagnosed either towards the end of pregnancy or in the months following delivery, in women without any other identifiable cause. Read More

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2018 Aug 13;18(1):330. Epub 2018 Aug 13.

Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.

Background: Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM), a potentially life-threatening condition in women, can have a profound impact on the family. Although structured support systems are developed, these systems tend to be based on the healthcare providers' perceptions and focus mainly on mothers' care. Fathers' vital role in supporting their partners has been advocated in previous research. Read More

JACC Heart Fail 2018 Sep 8;6(9):725-733. Epub 2018 Aug 8.

Division of Cardiology and the CardioVascular Center, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts. Electronic address:

Among patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, investigators have repeatedly identified a subgroup whose left ventricular ejection fraction and structural remodeling can improve to normal or nearly normal levels with or without medical therapy. This subgroup of patients with "heart failure with improved ejection fraction" has distinct clinical characteristics and a more favorable prognosis compared with patients who continue to have reduced ejection fraction. However, many of these patients also manifest clinical and biochemical signs of incomplete resolution of heart failure pathophysiology and remain at some risk of adverse outcomes, thus indicating that they may not have completely recovered. Read More

Int J Cardiol 2018 Dec 3;272:70-76. Epub 2018 Aug 3.

Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Groote Schuur Hospital, University of Cape Town, South Africa.

Background: Late maternal mortality (up-to 1-year postpartum) is poorly reported globally and is commonly due to cardiovascular disease (CVD). We investigated targeted interventions aiming at reducing peripartum heart failure admission and late maternal death.

Methods And Results: Prospective single-centre study of 269 peripartum women presenting with CVD in pregnancy, or within 6-months postpartum. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Aug;97(31):e11516

Department of Emergency, Tianjin First Central Hospital, Tianjin, China.

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is life-threatening and its diagnosis is a challenge. We highlight the clinical characteristics and bio-markers of PPCM and the proper differential diagnosis of peripartum dyspnea to aim to make an early diagnosis available.We analyzed 262 peripartum patients with dyspnea, and summed up the final diagnosis. Read More

J Cardiovasc Magn Reson 2018 Aug 2;20(1):52. Epub 2018 Aug 2.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mie University Hospital, 2-174 Edobashi, Tsu, Mie, 514-8507, Japan.

Background: Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a life-threatening condition that occurs during the peripartum period in previously healthy women. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) T1 mapping permits sensitive detection of tissue edema and fibrosis, and it may be useful in identifying altered myocardial tissue characteristics in peripartum cardiomyopathy. However, left ventricular (LV) volumes and mass increase considerably even in normal pregnancy, and it is not known whether altered tissue characteristics can be found in normal pregnancy. Read More

Pol Arch Intern Med 2018 Aug 11;128(7-8):482-484. Epub 2018 Jul 11.

Curr Heart Fail Rep 2018 Oct;15(5):297-306

Hatter Institute for Cardiovascular Research in Africa, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, 4th floor Chris Barnard Building, Cape Town, South Africa.

Purpose Of Review: Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is an idiopathic disorder defined as heart failure occurring in women during the last month of pregnancy and up to 5 months postpartum. In this review, we outline recent reports about the disease pathogenesis and management and highlight the use of diagnosis and prognosis biomarkers.

Recent Findings: Novel data strengthen the implication of endothelial function in PPCM pathogenesis. Read More

Am J Cardiol 2018 Sep 8;122(5):911. Epub 2018 Jun 8.

Muğla University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Cardiology, Muğla, Turkey.

Circulation 2018 Nov;138(21):2359-2366

Taueret Laboratories LLC, Salt Lake City, UT (R.C., A.B., K.W.).

Background: Preeclampsia is associated with diastolic dysfunction, peripartum cardiomyopathy, and both pre-existing and subsequent maternal cardiovascular disease. Gene mutations causing idiopathic cardiomyopathy were recently implicated in peripartum cardiomyopathy. We sought to determine whether cardiomyopathy gene mutations are also a contributory factor in preeclampsia. Read More

Curr Treat Options Cardiovasc Med 2018 Jul 18;20(8):66. Epub 2018 Jul 18.

Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.

Purpose Of Review: This review summarizes the pathophysiology, peripartum treatment, and anesthetic management of parturients with cardiac disease. Valvular disease, coronary disease, and cardiomyopathy are specifically addressed in the context of the normal physiologic changes of pregnancy. We offer recommendations for anesthetic approaches, hemodynamic goals with an emphasis on interdisciplinary planning between anesthesiologists, cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, obstetricians, maternal fetal medicine specialists, and neonatologists. Read More