Professional paper

Reversible peripartum cardiomyopathy in a triplet pregnancy

Dario Gulin ; Department of Cardiovascular Diseases University Hospital “Sveti Duh” School of Medicine, University of Zagreb Sveti Duh 64, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a rare form of dilated cardiomyopathy that occurs in previously healthy women in the last month of pregnancy and up to several months after delivery. The incidence of PPCM is low, but its morbidity and mortality rate are high, with a substantial risk of poor outcome of the pregnancy. Patients who have recovered from PPCM run a high risk of reoccurrence in subsequent pregnancies. In this case report we present a 32-year old female patient who developed acute heart failure (HF) associated with significantly reduced systolic function due to PPCM soon after a delivery of triplets. Treatment was immediately initiated in the intensive coronary unit with oxygen-therapy, loop diuretics, aldosterone blockers, beta blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and bromocriptine. During the follow up period, a year and a half after delivery, a complete recovery of systolic function was observed with no residual symptoms.

Keywords

dilated cardiomyopathy; triplet pregnancy; peripartum period

Hrčak ID:

170144

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/170144

Publication date:

1.12.2015.

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