A Case Report of Latent Peri-Partum Cardiomyopathy, Obscured by Hypertension

Peripartum Cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a pregnancy-associated cardiac disorder, which is potentially lifethreatening and manifests as left ventricular dysfunction and heart failure. The disease is rather rare and in most patients cardiac function recovers well, but long-term morbidity and mortality are not uncommon. Research studies suggest pregnancy-induced hormones and mediators, which cause vascular dysfunction, trigger that peri-partum cardiomyopathy. Genetic factors are also thought to play a role in pathophysiology. Management of peri-partum cardiomyopathy is same as cardiac failure and drugs against mediators like prolactin are under investigations, but no proven disease-specific therapies had been reported. We report a case of 35-year-old female who, instead of heart failure, had hypertension as sole presenting complaint of PPCM. Complications associated with PPCM are severe progressive heart failure, arrhythmias, heart block, cardiopulmonary block and thromboembolism. Death could be caused by worsening heart failure, arrhythmias and cardiopulmonary block.