Search

Objective: Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) diagnosis made by excluding identifiable causes of heart failure (HF) and occurs end of the pregnancy or during the postpartum period of five months. It presents a clinical HF spectrum with left ventricular systolic dysfunction. Background: The purpose of this study is to retrospectively evaluate the clinical characteristics, cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging features, and end-points consisting of left ventricle recovery, left ventricular assist device implantation, heart transplantation, and all-cause mortality. Method: Outpatient HF records between 2008 to 2021 were screened. Thirty-seven patients were defined as PPCM. Twenty-five patients had CMR evaluation at the time of diagnosis, and six patients were re-evaluated with CMR. Results: The mean age was 30.5±5.6 years, and the mean LVEF was 28.2±6.7%. In thirteen(35.7%) patients, LVEF recovered during the follow-up course. The median recovery time was 281(IQR [78-358]) days. LVEF on CMR was 35.3±10.5, and three patients exhibited late gadolinium enhancement(LGE) patterns. Sub-endocardial and mid-wall uptake pattern types were detected. 18(75%) patients met the Petersen left ventricle non-compaction cardiomyopathy(LVNC) criteria. Patients with NC/C ratio lower than 2.3 had lower LVEDVi and LVESVi (124.9±35.4,86.4±7.5, p=0.003;86.8±34.6,52.6±7.6, p=0.006), respectively. The median follow-up time was 2129 (IQR [911-2634]) days. The primary endpoint-free one-year survival was 88.9%(event rate 11.1%), and five-year survival was 75.7%(event rate 24.3%). Conclusion: In a retrospective cohort of PPCM patients, 35.7% of patients’ LVEF recovered, and the primary end-point of free-five-year survival was 75%. Twenty-five patients were assessed with CMR; three of four met the Petersen CMR-derived LVNC at initial evaluation.

Spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) may be detected by ultrasonography in environments favoring blood stasis. It is most commonly seen through the use of transesophageal echocardiography in the left atrium of patients with rheumatic mitral valve disease especially in the presence of atrial fibrillation. We studied the predictors of SEC, such as cardiac rhythm, left atrium and left atrial appendage functions, and mitral and pulmonary vein flow parameters, in patients with rheumatic mitral valve disease. The relationship between these parameters and the severity of SEC and appearance of thrombus was evaluated.