Postpartum cardiomyopathy: a cardiac emergency for gynecologists, general practitioners, internists, pulmonologists, and cardiologists.

Introduction: Peri- or postpartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a rare, life-threatening heart disease of unclear origin and is characterized by heart failure of sudden onset between the final weeks of pregnancy and 6 months after delivery.

Methods: Selective literature search in the databases of the National Center for Biotechnology Information based on the key words "peri- and postpartum cardiomyopathy," "pregnancy" and "heart failure" and additional information from the authors' personal experience.

Results: PPCM is often not diagnosed until late in its course, because its clinical manifestations are highly variable and a heart disease may not be suspected at first. Frequent presenting symptoms of PPCM, such as prostration, shortness of breath on mild exertion, and coughing, are often initially misinterpreted as evidence of pneumonia or as physiological accompaniments of pregnancy and delivery. The clinical picture of PPCM corresponds to a dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) with signs of severe heart failure. Therefore, treatment with ACE inhibitors, diuretics, aldosterone antagonists, and beta-blockers is required. Recent research findings suggest a possible new approach to the treatment of PPCM with bromocriptine, which inhibits the release of prolactin, a lactation-promoting hormone. To date, only the treatment of heart failure in PPCM is evidence-based, while all other treatments are "level C," i.e., based on expert opinion only.

Conclusion: The early diagnosis and interdisciplinary management of PPCM can often lead to substantial recovery from heart failure and cardiomyopathy.