[Peripartum cardiomyopathy]

Postpartum dilated cardiomyopathy and antiphospholipid syndrome: A rare association revealed by a pulmonary embolism (case report)

Antiphospholipid syndrome is a rare entity that must be systematically evoked in front of recurrent miscarriages associated with venous or arterial thrombosis, its diagnosis is based on a set of clinico-biological arguments. In rare cases, it can be associated with postpartum cardiomyopathy, which is defined by a dysfunction of the left ventricle with an LVEF<45%, which may or may not be associated with a dilation of the left ventricle. This association is rare and poorly described in the literature, which makes management difficult and uncodified. In this context we report the case of a 33-year-old patient with cardiovascular risk factors such as arterial hypertension 2 previous miscarriages and repeated phlebitis, she was admitted to the emergency room for the management of acute dyspnea related to a proximal right pulmonary embolism and in whom the transthoracic echocardiography had objectivated a dilated left ventricle and an alteration of the ejection fraction of the left ventricle, the coronary angiography came back without particularity as part of the etiological work-up, a biological work-up was carried out, which came back in favor of an antiphospholipid syndrome. This case shows diagnostic difficulties and management of this disease.

[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.

[Recurrent postpartum pyoderma gangrenosum and fatal cardiomyopathy]

BACKGROUND

We report a case of recurrent post-partum pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) complicated by post-partum cardiomyopathy (PPCM).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A 23-year-old woman presented with a previous medical history of aseptic abscess of the left breast in her fourth pregnancy, which developed after surgical drainage of an inflammatory ulceration treated by atraumatic topical care. During her fifth pregnancy, the patient presented a large and painful ulceration in relation to the scar of the Caesarean section, despite the introduction of broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy. Bacteriological samples were negative. Histological examination militated in favor of PG. One week after initiation of corticosteroid therapy, the patient suddenly showed signs of heart failure. Based on trans-thoracic echocardiography PPCM was diagnosed, and the outcome was fatal.

DISCUSSION

This observation raises the question of the relationship between PG and pregnancy and describes the association of PG and PPCM. PG occurs rarely during pregnancy and it may be induced by the rise in G-CSF levels found in pregnant women. The association with PPCM seen in our patient could have been due to the development of an anti-angiogenic climate at the end of pregnancy, together with inflammatory myocardial aggression linked to the PG.