Peripartum Cardiomyopathy: Current Understanding of Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Maternal-Fetal Outcomes

Goal: To provide a comprehensive and up-to-date review of the pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment and outcomes of Peripartum Cardiomyopathy. Methods: A narrative bibliographic review was carried out using the PubMed database, with the search terms "Peripartum Cardiomyopathy", "Diagnosis", "Management" "Treatment", "Risk Factors", "Pathophysiology", combined with Boolean terms "AND" and "OR". The results found were 430 articles, of which 16 were selected to form the basis of the research. Discussion: The study that peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is of great clinical importance, as it is a major contributor to maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide, in addition to directly affecting fetal health. As a form of diagnosis, the measurement of markers (focusing on BNP and NT-proBNP) associated with imaging tests (echocardiogram, electrocardiogram and biopsy, depending on the case) is recommended. Although the choice of treatment varies according to the patient's clinical condition, bromocriptine stood out as the main drug choice in the vast majority of cases. However, some women may develop a more severe form of the disease, thus requiring more invasive and aggressive intervention. Final considerations: Continuous research is crucial to improve clinical management, especially in genetic and immunological investigation and identification of additional risk factors, so that the diagnosis and management of MCPP can be improved in the future.