[Severe pulmonary embolism and acute lower limb ischemia complicating peripartum cardiomyopathy successfully treated by streptokinase]

The Relationship Between Peripartum Cardiomyopathy and Preeclampsia – Pathogenesis, Diagnosis and Management

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a condition with an incompletely understood etiology, although many risk factors for this disorder have been mentioned. Preeclampsia (PE) is a rare but undoubtedly very important cause of PPCM. Early recognition and prompt treatment of preeclampsia and peripartum cardiomyopathy are essential to optimize pregnancy outcomes. An extensive manual search of major electronic databases was conducted in November 2021. The following literature review provides a comprehensive discussion of peripartum cardiomyopathy and preeclampsia and quantifies the prevalence of PE in women with PPCM. The authors highlighted aspects such as epidemiology, risk factors, cardiovascular changes, diagnosis and clinical presentation, and management and complications. Accumulating data indicate that both conditions have a similar pathogenesis characterized by vascular abnormalities. In both conditions we can observe an increase in interleukin-6 and gamma interferon, CCL2/MCP1, and decreased SOD activity. sFLT1 (a soluble form of fms-like tyrosine kinase 1), a substance with antiangiogenic and probably cardiotoxic effects, may be important. Preeclampsia and peripartum cardiomyopathy are characterized by recurrence rates that follow a similar pattern in subsequent pregnancies, and mortality remains a concern. Our analysis highlights the need to better understand the co-morbidity of PE and PPCM, and the need to qualify patients for the same clinical trials because of the common origin of these conditions.

Peripartum cardiomyopathy

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a rare, often dilated, cardiomyopathy with systolic dysfunction that presents in late pregnancy or, more commonly, the early postpartum period. Although the condition is prevalent worldwide, women with black ancestry seem to be at greatest risk, and the condition has a particularly high incidence in Nigeria and Haiti. Other risk factors include pre-eclampsia, advanced maternal age, and multiple gestation pregnancy. Although the complete pathophysiology of peripartum cardiomyopathy remains unclear, research over the past decade suggests the importance of vasculo-hormonal pathways in women with underlying susceptibility. At least some women with the condition harbor an underlying sarcomere gene mutation. More than half of affected women recover systolic function, although some are left with a chronic cardiomyopathy, and a minority requires mechanical support or cardiac transplantation (or both). Other potential complications include thromboembolism and arrhythmia. Currently, management entails standard treatments for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, with attention to minimizing potential adverse effects on the fetus in women who are still pregnant. Bromocriptine is one potential disease specific treatment under investigation. In this review, we summarize the current literature on peripartum cardiomyopathy, as well as gaps in the understanding of this condition and future research directions.

[Peripartum cardiomyopathy]

La cardiomyopathie du péri-partum (CMP-PP) ou syndrome de Meadows, est une cardiomyopathie dilatée survenue pendant ou au décours d'une grossesse, définie par une insuffisance cardiaque avec une fraction d'éjection systolique du ventricule gauche inférieure à 45%. Il s'agit d'une entité pathologique rare dont le mécanisme physiopathologique en cause reste mal élucidé. Sur le plan clinique il s'agit d'une insuffisance cardiaque inopinée d'installation rapide, d'évolution imprévisible avec risque de choc cardiogénique réfractaire justifiant une prise en charge en réanimation cardiovasculaire. La CMP-PP ne nécessite aucun traitement spécifique par rapport aux autres causes d'insuffisance cardiaque. Nous rapportons le cas d'une primigeste de 29 ans qui a consulté à 32 semaines d'aménorrhée dans un tableau d'insuffisance cardiaque congestive en rapport avec une cardiomyopathie du péri-partum. L'objectif de ce travail est de préciser les caractéristiques de cette cardiopathie, qui malgré son caractère exceptionnel ne doit pas être méconnu par l'obstétricien.