Monday, July 13, 2009

Peripartum cardiomyopathy

Reviewed in CCJM.

Peripartum cardiomyopathy occurs in the last trimester of pregnancy or up to 5 months after delivery. Treatment is, in general, similar to standard heart failure treatment although during pregnancy ACEIs and ARBs are supplanted by hydralazine and nitrates.

Novel treatment strategies were mentioned, including bromocriptine, which I blogged about here, supported at this time only by pathophysiologic rationale in a mouse model and dramatic anecdotal reports.

1 comment:

Melissa said...

Why does this happen?