Key result
Life-threatening arrhythmias contribute significantly to sudden cardiac death in peripartum cardiomyopathy, and wearable cardioverter-defibrillators may serve as a bridging therapy for patients with severely reduced ejection fraction.
Why the study?
The incidence of arrhythmias in peripartum cardiomyopathy is not well documented, yet rhythm disturbances often occur and contribute significantly to sudden cardiac death.
This review highlights the importance of detecting and managing life-threatening arrhythmias in peripartum cardiomyopathy to prevent sudden cardiac death.
Supports wearable defibrillator bridging in severe peripartum cardiomyopathy; leaves open randomized trials on sudden death prevention.
Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is an idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, in which previously healthy women present with heart failure secondary to left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction during the last months of pregnancy or up to 5 months postpartum. PPCM occurs worldwide. The incidence seems to be increasing, possibly due to increasing awareness of the condition and diagnosis thereof. Women diagnosed with PPCM present with symptoms and signs of heart failure, thromboembolism or arrhythmia. Although the incidence of arrhythmias in this condition is not well documented, patients with PPCM often have rhythm disturbances. Indeed, life-threating arrhythmias contribute significantly to sudden cardiac death (SCD) in this population, especially when patients have poor systolic function. In this review, we summarize the evidence on atrial and ventricular arrhythmias in PPCM, as detected by various diagnostic modalities. Furthermore, we summarize the management of arrhythmias in PPCM, as recommended by contemporary guidelines.
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Hoevelmann et al. (2020) conducted a review in Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM). Arrhythmia detection and management (ECG, AECG, WCD, ICD) was evaluated. Life-threatening arrhythmias contribute significantly to sudden cardiac death in peripartum cardiomyopathy, and wearable cardioverter-defibrillators may serve as a bridging therapy for patients with severely reduced ejection fraction.
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