Among 262 peripartum women with dyspnea, 4% were diagnosed with peripartum cardiomyopathy, which was associated with elevated heart rate, hs-CRP, and BNP compared to controls.
Observational (n=262)
What are the clinical characteristics and diagnostic biomarkers that differentiate peripartum cardiomyopathy from other causes of dyspnea in peripartum women?
Elevated heart rate, WBC, hs-CRP, and BNP, along with reduced LVEF, can help differentiate peripartum cardiomyopathy from physiologic dyspnea in peripartum women.
Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is life-threatening and its diagnosis is a challenge. We highlight the clinical characteristics and bio-markers of PPCM and the proper differential diagnosis of peripartum dyspnea to aim to make an early diagnosis available.We analyzed 262 peripartum patients with dyspnea, and summed up the final diagnosis. The clinical data of the control group and the PPCM group as well as before and after the treatment of the PPCM group were compared.In total, 147 (56%) of the perinatal patients were physiologic dyspnea of pregnancy; only 11 (4%) patients met the PPCM diagnostic criteria. Compared with the basic baseline characteristics between the PPCM group and control group, patients with PPCM had a higher heart rate, and the white blood cell, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels were markedly elevated, whereas PaO2 and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were lower. The heart rate, CRP and BNP levels were lower at the follow-up compared with the pretreatment. Patients who were followed up showed significant improvements in the LVEF and New York Heart Association function class.We standardized the symptoms of dyspnea for calculating, and analyzed the diagnostic efficacy of laboratory indicators. The research highlighted that the use of echocardiography and disease-specific bio-markers may aid in the diagnosis and management.
Wang et al. (Wed,) conducted a observational in Peripartum dyspnea (n=262). Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) vs. Control group (non-PPCM) was evaluated on Prevalence of PPCM. Among 262 peripartum women with dyspnea, 4% were diagnosed with peripartum cardiomyopathy, which was associated with elevated heart rate, hs-CRP, and BNP compared to controls.