Objective:

To identify the epidemiology and the diagnostic and therapeutic processes of women with peripartum cardiomyopathy on a cardiovascular reference center.

Method:

A retrospective descriptive observational study was conducted with female patients between 15 and 50 years of age with a diagnosis of peripartum cardiomyopathy during the last 10 years.

Results:

17 women with a diagnosis of peripartum cardiomyopathy where included, with a mean age of 31 (± 6,7) years at the time of diagnosis. The average number of previous pregnancies was 1.0 in 52.9% of the population. Obesity and preeclampsia were present in 23.5% and 18.8%, respectively. Diabetes was found in one patient (5.9%) and two had hemorrhage of the first trimester (11.8%). 41.2% of the women had a spontaneous vertex delivery. The symptoms presented at the time of diagnosis were deterioration of their functional class in 100.0%, edema in the lower limbs in 52.9%, orthopnea in 76.4% and paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea in 88.2%.

Conclusions:

Our data show that peripartum cardiomyopathy occurs with a mode of presentation similar to the rest of the world, pharmacological treatment for heart failure with the combination of beta blockers, ACE inhibitors/ARBs, and diuretics continue to be the fundamental pillar in the treatment of peripartum cardiomyopathy; It is also important to note that peripartum cardiomyopathy remains a serious condition with a high rate of critically ill patients who remain in heart failure after diagnosis with a significant risk of mortality.

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