Why the study?
A broad differential diagnosis must be considered when assessing a postpartum patient in cardiopulmonary distress, highlighting the challenges of diagnosing and treating new-onset heart failure.
This case highlights the utility of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in diagnosing complex etiologies of postpartum heart failure, such as SLE-associated myopericarditis.
BACKGROUND: There is a broad differential diagnosis that should be considered when assessing a postpartum patient in cardiopulmonary distress. CASE: The authors present a case of postpartum systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)-associated myopericarditis causing heart failure with reduced ejection fraction highlighting the challenges of diagnosis and treatment of new-onset heart failure in postpartum patients. DISCUSSION: A unique element of this case was peripartum unmasking of SLE with cardiac involvement. Hormonal changes during pregnancy exacerbate helper T-cell mediated autoimmune diseases, potentially triggering SLE in this patient. TAKE-HOME MESSAGE: This case emphasizes the importance of using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging to determine the etiology of heart failure during the postpartum period and shared decision-making around guideline-directed medical therapy in a lactating patient.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Richardson et al. (2025) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: