Peripartum cardiomyopathy

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Heart, section through the middle

Heart, front view

Peripartum cardiomyopathy

Peripartum cardiomyopathy

Alternative Names:

Cardiomyopathy - peripartum
Symptoms:

Shortness of breath
- on exertion
- when lying flat (orthopnea)
Fatigue
Swelling of the ankles
Increased frequency of night-time urination (nocturia)
Feeling of racing or skipping of the heart (palpitations)

Signs and tests:

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During a physical examination, the physician will look for signs of fluid in the lungs by touch and tapping with the fingers. Listening to the chest with a stethoscope reveals lung crackles, a rapid heart rate, or abnormal heart sounds.

The liver may be enlarged and neck veins may be swollen. Blood pressure may be low or may drop when rising to a standing position.

Heart enlargement, congestion of the lungs or the veins in the lungs, decreased cardiac output, decreased movement or functioning of the heart, or heart failure may show on:

An ECG can show enlargement of the heart; problems with the electrical part of the heart, called conduction disturbances; and arrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, or an ectopic heartbeat (premature or abnormal beat). A heart biopsy may be helpful to determine an underlying cause of the cardiomyopathy.

Many cases of peripartum cardiomyopathy seem to be related to myocarditis, confirmed by the heart biopsy. Lab tests may vary.