Impact of High-Risk Pregnancy on Peripartum Left Ventricular Function.

Background: Predictors of the clinical characteristics of pregnant women at risk of peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) remain unclear.

Methods And Results: We enrolled 450 cases of high-risk pregnancy with any risk factor from among ≥35 years of age, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), multiple gestation, or other systemic or obstetric complications except for a history of cardiac disease. All the women underwent echocardiography and plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) measurement during the second/third trimester and the early/late postpartum period.