Is perinatal cardiomyopathy dangerous?

The article is professionally consulted by Cardiologist - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Phu Quoc International General Hospital.

Motherhood is the special vocation of any woman. However, pregnancy and childbirth have many potential risks affecting the health of pregnant women after giving birth, including perinatal myocarditis.

Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a type of dilated cardiomyopathy that occurs during pregnancy or shortly after childbirth (1 type of postpartum heart disease is English name is peripartum cardiomyopathy). Any pregnant woman is at risk for perinatal myocarditis, including those without risk factors for heart disease and those who have never had heart disease.
Peripartum myocarditis can lead to heart failure in pregnant women during the last months of pregnancy or within 5 months of giving birth. Heart failure can be a temporary or more serious condition that can progress to severe and life-threatening heart failure.

To date, the etiology of perinatal cardiomyopathy has not been elucidated. While studies have shown that myocarditis may be part of the cause, inflammation of the heart muscle involves inflammatory proteins sometimes found in the blood of pregnant women.
Besides, there is also evidence that certain fetal cells, when entering the mother's blood, can cause certain immune reactions that cause myocarditis. Some cases of peripartum myocarditis are also linked to genetic factors.

Perinatal myocarditis is a rare disease. However, the following situations are often at high risk of perinatal myocarditis:
Older pregnant women (usually over 30 years old) Women carrying multiples Women after giving birth prematurely Women abusing cocaine Pregnant women Multiple pregnancies Pregnant women with a history of preeclampsia, severe pregnancy toxicity People infected with Chlamydia, enterovirus. Women of the African American race

Perinatal myocarditis often leads to heart failure, so the symptoms are similar to those of heart failure, specifically:
Fatigue, exhaustion, dizziness, dizziness Difficulty breathing, especially when lying down Rapid breathing, wheezing , cough Legs, ankles, feet signs of swelling, edema Uncontrollable weight gain (due to fluid accumulation) Confusion, lack of clarity

Most people with peripartum myocarditis are treated in the same way as dilated cardiomyopathy. Some cases of pregnant women with peripartum cardiomyopathy progressing to heart failure before the baby is born should follow the standard heart failure treatment regimen.
Pregnant women with peripartum myocarditis will be prescribed the drug hydralazine to help dilate blood vessels and improve symptoms of heart failure until the baby is born. Although drugs containing ACE inhibitors or aldosterone antagonists are quite effective in the treatment of dilated cardiomyopathy, they should not be used in pregnant women because they can cause adverse effects. adverse effects on the fetus.
In addition, some other drugs may be prescribed for use such as diuretics, digoxin, anticoagulants,...
Pregnant women at high risk are best advised to visit a doctor periodically for advice. about the most suitable lifestyle and nutrition. Regular antenatal check-ups and screening tests also help pregnant women detect abnormalities early and have timely treatment, thereby minimizing the worst complications.

As a rare disease with an incidence of 1/1,300 - 1/15,000, peripartum myocarditis is a dangerous disease if not detected and treated promptly.
The mortality rate in people with peripartum myocarditis is quite high. Specifically:
Mortality rate 85%: The case of women after 5 years not only does not recover but also suffers from severe diseases such as chronic congestive heart failure, heart failure. Mortality rate 50%: In people with abnormal heart function and perinatal myocarditis during pregnancy. 10% mortality: Even in those who have been treated and recovered from peripartum cardiomyopathy. Therefore, pregnancy is not recommended for women with a history of peripartum cardiomyopathy. Most cases of peripartum cardiomyopathy are diagnosed during childbirth or after maternal death. Therefore, early recognition and interventions to prevent disease progression are essential to reduce possible mortality.
To protect cardiovascular health in general and detect early signs of myocardial infarction and stroke, customers can sign up for Cardiovascular Screening Package - Basic Cardiovascular Examination of Vinmec International General Hospital . The examination package helps to detect cardiovascular problems at the earliest through tests and modern imaging methods. The package is for all ages, genders and is especially essential for people with risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
Customers can directly go to Vinmec Health system nationwide to visit or contact the hotline here for support.
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