Key result
Baseline RV dysfunction links to reduced full cardiac recovery in peripartum cardiomyopathy.
Why the study?
Functional analysis of the right ventricle and tissue characterization by cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging in peripartum cardiomyopathy have been only sporadically described, and their prognostic relevance is unclear.
Does right ventricular dysfunction on CMR predict reduced probability of full cardiac recovery in patients with newly diagnosed peripartum cardiomyopathy?
Observational (n=34)
Yes
Does right ventricular dysfunction on CMR predict reduced probability of full cardiac recovery in patients with newly diagnosed peripartum cardiomyopathy?
In patients with peripartum cardiomyopathy, right ventricular dysfunction is present in about one-third of cases at diagnosis and is associated with a lower likelihood of full cardiac recovery.
RV dysfunction on CMR may aid risk stratification in new PPCM; leaves open need for prospective validation before guiding care.
Aims Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a major cause of acute heart failure in the peripartum period and considered potentially life threatening. While many aspects of its clinical profiles have been frequently reported, functional analysis, in particular of the right ventricle, and tissue characterization by cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging have been only sporadically described. The aim of the present study was to analyse pathological alterations and their prognostic relevance found in CMR imaging of patients newly diagnosed with PPCM. Methods and results In this multicenter study 34 patients with confirmed PPCM underwent CMR imaging at the time of diagnosis and at 5±1months follow-up. Cine imaging of PPCM patients showed moderate to severe reduction of systolic left ventricular (LV) function (mean LVEF: 29.7±12.8%). In 35% of the patients right ventricular (RV) systolic function was also reduced with a mean RVEF of 42.9±13.9%. Dilatation of the LV was observed in 91% (mean LV-EDV/BSA 128.5±32.1mL/m2), and dilatation of the RV was present in 24% (mean RV-EDV/BSA 87.4±18.5mL/m2) of the patients. Focal non-ischemic late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) was visible in 71%, and regional wall motion abnormalities were evident in 88% of the patients. LGE and wall motion abnormalities were predominantly located in the anteroseptal and basal to midventricular segments. RV dysfunction at baseline was associated with reduced probability of full cardiac recovery at 5±1months follow-up. Conclusions Besides LV systolic dysfunction, RV dysfunction and dilatation are observed in about one third of PPCM patients at the time of diagnosis. RV dysfunction is associated with unfavourable outcome. A distinct pattern of LV wall motion abnormalities and myocardial scar is evident in most PPCM patients. The present study may help to establish a set of CMR criteria suitable for diagnosis in patients with suspected PPCM and may add further knowledge to the pathology of the disease.
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Röntgen et al. (2015) conducted an observational in Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) (n=34). Right ventricular dysfunction vs. Normal right ventricular function was evaluated on Full cardiac recovery. Among 34 patients with peripartum cardiomyopathy, baseline right ventricular dysfunction (present in 35%) was associated with a reduced probability of full cardiac recovery at 5 months.
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