Abstract
Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a rare, but potentially life-threatening idiopathic form of cardiomyopathy characterized by manifestation of heart failure within the last month before or 5 months after the labour in previously healthy women when no other cause of heart failure is identifi ed. The incidence of PPCM greatly varies geographically, most likely because of socioeconomic and genetic factors.
The etiology, pathophysiology, and treatment of this rare disease are still quite poorly understood. PPCM refl ects genetic predisposition and/or can be triggered by pathologic processes associated with pregnancy, such as preeclampsia, oxidative stress, and prolactin hypersecretion.
Despite the fact that no causal treatment is yet known, females with PPCM in well developed countries have a relatively good prognosis.