Abstract

Introduction: Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a rare cause of dilated cardiomyopathy occurring in late pregnancy or in the months following delivery. The aim of this work was to analyze the epidemiological, clinical and evolutionary aspects of peripartum cardiomyopathies at Ziguinchor Peace Hospital.
Patients and methods: We conducted a prospective descriptive study at the Peace Hospital Medicine Department between March 2015 and May 2017. It involved women with heart failure between the 8th month of pregnancy and the first 5 months postpartum.
Results: Sixteen patients were registered. The average age was 26.75 years old. The majority of our patients were at a low socioeconomic level (75%) and multiparous (75%). The onset of the disease was observed in the first trimester postpartum, in the majority of cases (61.5%). The consultation time was late with an average delay of 54.81 days and symptoms were dominated by exercise dyspnea. Electrocardiographic abnormalities were dominated by sinus tachycardia (50%). In the cardiac Doppler echo, the average diastolic diameter of the left ventricle was 59.7 mm and the average left ventricular systolic function was 34%. Therapeutic management relied mainly on diuretics (100%) and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (100%). The average duration of hospitalization was 6.31 days.
Conclusion: Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a serious, often underdiagnosed, complication during pregnancy. Its unpredictable evolution justifies early and optimal management.

Keywords: Cardiology; Peripartum cardiomyopathy; Heart failure; Electrocardiogram