[Peripartum cardiomyopathy].

Heart failure in the last month of pregnancy or with in 5 months after delivery has long been recognized as peripartum cardiomyopathy. Additional criteria include the absence of other identifiable causes of heart failure and the absence of other prior heart disease. Estimate of the incidence vary from 1 in 1300 to 4000 pregnancies. The mortality rates of this disorder in the acute phases and subacute phases range from 25 to 50 percent the prognosis is especially poor in patients with cardiomegaly persisting > 6 months and in patients with low left ventricular ejection fraction.