Peripartum cardiomyopathy.

Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a rare and potentially lethal cardiac complication of pregnancy occurring in the final month of pregnancy through the first 5 months after birth. It is characterized by the development of congestive heart failure and left ventricular systolic dysfunction, in previously healthy women with no other identifiable cause for heart failure. The etiology of peripartum cardiomyopathy is not well understood. Potential causal mechanisms include infection, autoimmune disease, and abnormal response to the hemodynamic stresses of pregnancy. There is significant risk of reoccurrence in subsequent pregnancies. The purpose of this article is to review the pathophysiology, diagnosis, management, prognosis, and nursing implications of peripartum cardiomyopathy.