Purpose of investigation: Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) has been traditionally regarded as a condition with a poor prognosis. We studied the acute and long-term outcomes in patients with PPCM in a tertiary care hospital.
Methods: Patients with PPCM admitted to our hospital from June 1990 to February 2002 who had documented left ventricular (LV) dysfunction by echocardiographic criteria were retrospectively reviewed.
Results: Out of ten patients who fulfilled the criteria for the diagnosis, six (60%) had severe, and four (40%) had moderate LV dysfunction at echocardiography. None had evidence of other chronic disease. Treatment consisted of fluid restriction, diuresis, and afterload reducers in all, and intravenous inotropes in three (30%) of the patients. No patient died while in hospital or during follow-up. All patients showed improvement in their clinical condition and LV function on follow-up which normalized in seven (70%).
Conclusion: PPCM might carry a relatively good prognosis in patients with absence of associated disease conditions.