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Purpose: Postpartum hypertension (PPHTN) poses increased risks, including of stroke. Timely assessment and management by clinicians is imperative but challenging. Team-based care involving pharmacists has shown promise in improving blood pressure control, yet its application in PPHTN management remains unexplored. The objective of this study was to determine the impact and feasibility of an interprofessional model for PPHTN management., Summary: This initiative implemented a novel interprofessional model at a safety-net hospital to address previous workflow limitations. Ambulatory care pharmacists collaborated with an obstetric nurse (OBRN) and a maternal fetal medicine specialist to manage high-risk patients with PPHTN utilizing electronic consults (e-consults). Data collection and symptom assessment were completed by an OBRN via telemedicine appointments. Pharmacists employed a collaborative practice agreement based on a preestablished algorithm to initiate medications. Data on patient demographics, consult volume, prescriptions, and pharmacist comfort were collected during the first quarter of full integration. Pharmacists completed 55 e-consults and generated 54 prescriptions. The average time spent per chart review was 12.5 minutes, and the average time to completion of e-consults was 54 minutes. Forty-five unique patients received care, who were primarily non-English-speaking and non-Hispanic Black patients. Pharmacists reported moderate to high comfort levels in managing PPHTN based on the algorithm and provided feedback leading to workflow adjustments., Conclusion: Integration of pharmacists into PPHTN care enables prompt medication initiation and titration. This innovative model, involving remote blood pressure monitoring, telemedicine visits with an OBRN, and e-consults completed by pharmacists, ensures delivery of timely and equitable care and improved access across a diverse population., (© American Society of Health-System Pharmacists 2024. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Background: Postpartumpost-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as a psychological stress disorder, has long-term and widespread harm. Still, compared with other postpartum psychiatric disorders, postpartum PTSD has received relatively littleattention in China. This study aims to investigate the risk factors of postpartum PTSD and to develop a convenient and rapid nomogram screening tool to help clinical staff identify high-risk pregnant womenin time and take preventative and management measures., Methods: Recruited pregnant women hospitalized for delivery in Qingdao Municipal Hospital and Jinzhou Maternal and Child Health Hospital from November 2022 to October 2023 as convenient samples for the questionnaire survey. Telephone follow-up was conducted 42 days after delivery. After univariate analysis, multicollinearity analysis, and logistic regression analysis, the risk factors of postnatal PTSD were obtained, a prediction model was established, and a nomogram was drawn by R software. G*power3.1.9.7 calculated the effectiveness of the test. The model was validated internally using the Bootstrap approach, and external validation was carried out using a verification group. The accuracy of the model's predictions and its clinical application value were evaluated by the area under the curve, calibration plot, and decision curve analysis., Results: A total of 602 women were recruited in this study, and the incidence of postpartum PTSD was 11.1% (67/602). Multifactorial logistic regression analysis showed that poor self-assessment of sleep status in late pregnancy (OR = 5.336), cesarean section (OR = 2.825), instrumental delivery (OR = 5.994), having fear of labor (OR = 4.857), and a high score of Five Factors Inventory Neuroticism subscale (OR = 1.244) were independent risk factors for developing postpartum PTSD. A high Quality of Relationship Index score (OR = 0.891) was a protective factor for postpartum PTSD. In the training and validation sets, the nomogram model's area under the ROC curve was 0.928 and 0.907, respectively. The calibration curves showed that the nomogram model was well-fitted, and the Decision Curve Analysis indicated that the nomogram model had good value for clinical application., Conclusions: With its strong predictive capacity, the prediction model built using postpartum PTSD risk factors can help clinical caregivers identify high-risk pregnant women early on and implement timely preventive intervention strategies., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia represent global health issues, particularly during pregnancy and the postpartum. The present paper aims to summarize the appropriate management of these conditions in order to try to improve how clinicians perceive, diagnose and treat iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia., Methods: An expert panel of Italian obstetricians of Lazio region was convened to evaluate the available literature on iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy and the post-partum in order to try to define a flow chart on the appropriate management of such conditions; aspects related to the patient blood management have also been investigated., Results: According to both hemoglobin level and ferritin values, five the flow charts on the appropriate management of iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia have been drawn., Conclusions: It is desired to define appropriate flow charts to treat iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia, which are too often not promptly diagnosed and managed, in order to try to improve antenatal care.

Majority of the eclampsia or preeclampsia occur between 20 weeks of gestation and within 48 hours postpartum. Postpartum eclampsia usually occurs on a background of preeclampsia. Late postpartum eclampsia (LPE) without preeclampsia is a rarity. LPE with posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) and mild hypertension is extremely rare. We report a case of LPE with PRES without preeclampsia, at a blood pressure of 140/90 mm Hg. Seizures occurring late postpartum period could be due to LPE and this can occur even with mild hypertension., (© Journal of the Association of Physicians of India 2024.)

Purpose: To evaluate the utility of cervical cultures in the diagnosis and management of postpartum endometritis., Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 1069 cervical cultures collected from postpartum women with suspected endometritis between 2011 and 2021. Patient demographics, obstetric history, clinical parameters, and culture results were analyzed. Microorganisms were categorized into five groups based on species and virulence. Statistical analysis was performed to identify associations between risk factors, pathogens, and disease severity., Results: The positivity rate for distinct microorganisms in cervical cultures was 33.1%. Escherichia coli (10.8%) and Group B Streptococcus (7.5%) were the most common isolates. Prolonged labor duration and prolonged rupture of membranes were associated with Enterobacterales infections. Elevated white blood cell count was linked to Enterobacterales and beta-hemolytic Streptococci, while the former were also associated with higher rate of postpartum clinic visit. No significant differences in disease severity were found between other microorganism groups., Conclusion: The study suggests that while cervical cultures can identify potential pathogens in postpartum endometritis, their clinical utility is questionable due to the polymicrobial nature of the disease and the isolation of commensal microorganisms. The lack of significant differences in disease severity across various microorganism groups raises questions regarding the contribution of distinct bacterial identification in endometritis management., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Bleeding is a serious cause of hypotension and tachycardia after childbirth and should always be considered., Case Presentation: A healthy woman in her thirties who had previously undergone caesarean section, underwent induction and operative vaginal delivery. Postpartum, she experienced chest pain, hypotension and tachycardia, and had signs of ischaemia on electrocardiogram. A CT scan showed a large intraperitoneal haematoma. The patient underwent immediate laparotomy and received a massive blood transfusion. However, no large haematoma was found. The chest pain was attributed to a myocardial infarction caused by hypovolaemic shock. After discharge, the patient experienced significant vaginal bleeding and was transferred to a different university hospital. A CT scan revealed a large retroperitoneal haematoma. Emergency surgery was performed based on the suspicion of active bleeding, but only an older haematoma was found. Re-evaluation of the initial CT scan revealed that the haematoma was in fact located retroperitoneally and was thereby not found in the first operation., Interpretation: This case highlights the importance of bleeding as an important cause in unstable postpartum patients. Additionally, it is a reminder that retroperitoneal haematomas can occur in obstetric patients and can mask typical symptoms of uterine rupture such as abdominal pain. also hindering perioperative diagnosis.

Objective: Puerperal uterine inversion is a rare and severe complication and is associated with short cord, uncontrolled cord traction, placenta accreta, or uterine atony., Case Report: A primigravida woman gave birth a 2770 gm newborn at term at our hospital, and clinically presented postpartum hemorrhage, hypovolemic shock, postpartum preeclampsia and urinary retention. She discharged 3 days postpartum, but she complained persist vaginal bleeding and lower abdominal pain for more than 1 month. Uterine inversion was diagnosed and laparoscope surgery for reduction was done., Conclusion: The non-specific clinical presentation made diagnosis of uterine inversion more difficult. Except pelvic examination, sonographic and hysteroscopic images were record in this article. Surgical intervention was performed. A fundus incision was effective for reduction and had low risk of bladder and bowel injury., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Background: Recognizing the importance of close follow-up after hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, many centers have initiated programs to support postpartum remote blood pressure management., Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of remote blood pressure management to determine the scalability of these programmatic interventions., Study Design: This was a cost-effectiveness analysis of using remote blood pressure management vs usual care to manage postpartum hypertension. The modeled remote blood pressure management included provision of a home blood pressure monitor, guidance on warning symptoms, instructions on blood pressure self-monitoring twice daily, and clinical staff to manage population-level blood pressures as appropriate. Usual care was defined as guidance on warning symptoms and recommendations for 1 outpatient visit for blood pressure monitoring within a week after discharge. This study designed a Markov model that ran over fourteen 1-day cycles to reflect the initial 2 weeks after delivery when most emergency department visits and readmissions occur and remote blood pressure management is clinically anticipated to be most impactful. Parameter values for the base-case scenario were derived from both internal data and literature review. Quality-adjusted life-years were calculated over the first year after delivery and reflected the short-term morbidities associated with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy that, for most birthing people, resolve by 2 weeks after delivery. Sensitivity analyses were performed to assess the strength and validity of the model. The primary outcome was the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio, which was defined as the cost needed to gain 1 quality-adjusted life-year. The secondary outcome was incremental cost per readmission averted. Analyses were performed from a societal perspective., Results: In the base-case scenario, remote blood pressure management was the dominant strategy (ie, cost less, higher quality-adjusted life-years). In univariate sensitivity analyses, the most cost-effective strategy shifted to usual care when the cost of readmission fell below $2987.92 and the rate of reported severe range blood pressure with a response in remote blood pressure management was <1%. Assuming a willingness to pay of $100,000 per quality-adjusted life-year, using remote blood pressure management was cost-effective in 99.28% of simulations in a Monte Carlo analysis. Using readmissions averted as a secondary effectiveness outcome, the incremental cost per readmission averted was $145.00., Conclusion: Remote blood pressure management for postpartum hypertension is cost saving and has better outcomes than usual care. Our data can be used to inform future dissemination of and support funding for remote blood pressure management programs., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To determine the incidence of covert and overt postpartum urinary retention after vaginal delivery and the associated risk factors for postpartum urinary retention. To determine how well clinical examination by abdominal palpation correlates with ultrasound findings of urinary retention., Methods: Patients after delivery were screened with ultrasound and examined clinically to check for retention of urine after voiding., Results: A total of 822 of women were recruited in the study of which 86 (10.5%) women had significant post-void residue of urine. 33 (38.4%) had overt retention, while 53 (61.6%) had covert retention. Duration of labour and an increased VAS score were found to be significantly higher among those with urinary retention. Using clinical examination to diagnose postpartum urinary retention had a sensitivity of 66.1%, specificity of 88.6%, positive predictive value of 76.5% and negative predictive value of 82.3%., Conclusions: Clinical examination by abdominal palpation is not a very sensitive test in diagnosing PPUR., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Competing Interests: Competing interests: The BMJ has judged that there are no disqualifying financial ties to commercial companies. The authors declare the following other interests: None.

Objective: To describe the epidemiological, clinical, paraclinical, therapeutic and evolutionary characteristics of of peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) in the internal medicine department of the Zinder National Hospital (ZNH)., Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study carried out from 2018 to 2022 at the ZNH Department of Internal Medicine. Included were all patients admitted for PPCM who met National Heart Blood and Lung Institute criteria. The data collected was analyzed using Excel and EPI INFO v7., Results: We had collected 100 cases of PPCM out of a total of 8706 hospitalized patients, i.e. a hospital prevalence of 1.14%. The mean age of the patients was 27.9 years ± 7.4 [17-45]. The majority of patients were from underprivileged social strata (n=64). The risk factors for PMPC found were essentially hot bath (n=66), home birth (n=40), natron porridge (n=35) and multiparity (n=57). Cardiac symptomatology appeared postpartum in 56% of patients. Dyspnea was the main symptom in 98% of cases. The physical signs were dominated by the functional systolic murmur (66%). Three quarters (75%) of the patients had congestive heart failure. Electrocardiographic signs were dominated by left ventricular hypertrophy (n=65). Cardiomegaly was present in 94% of patients. Left ventricular ejection fraction was altered in all patients. Impaired renal function was found in 31% of patients. Management was based on a low-sodium diet tripod, diuretics and converting enzyme inhibitors. Two cases of death were recorded., Conclusion: PPCM is common in the Zinder region. It affects young women with several risk factors and is revealed by signs of congestive heart failure. For a better understanding of this still poorly elucidated condition, it is necessary to pursue research efforts.

Objective: The aim was to develop a predictive tool for anticipating postpartum endometritis occurrences and to devise strategies for prevention and control., Methods: Employing a retrospective approach, the baseline data of 200 women diagnosed with postpartum endometritis in a tertiary maternity hospital in Zhejiang Province, spanning from February 2020 to September 2022, was examined. Simultaneously, the baseline data of 1,000 women without endometritis during the same period were explored with a 1:5 ratio. Subsequently, 1,200 women were randomly allocated into a training group dataset and a test group dataset, adhering to a 7:3 split. The selection of risk factors for postpartum endometritis involved employing random forests, lasso regression, and traditional univariate and multifactor logistic regression on the training group dataset. A nomogram was then constructed based on these factors. The model's performance was assessed using the area under the curve (AUC), calculated through plotting the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Additionally, the Brier score was employed to evaluate the model with a calibration curve. To gauge the utility of the nomogram, a clinical impact curve (CIC) analysis was conducted. This comprehensive approach not only involved identifying risk factors but also included a visual representation (nomogram) and thorough evaluation metrics, ensuring a robust tool for predicting, preventing, and controlling postpartum endometritis., Results: In the multivariate analysis, six factors were identified as being associated with the occurrence of maternal endometritis in the postpartum period. These factors include the number of negative finger tests (OR: 1.159; 95%CI: 1.091-1.233; P < 0.05), postpartum hemorrhage (1.003; 1.002-1.005; P < 0.05), pre-eclampsia (9.769; 4.64-21.155; P < 0.05), maternity methods (2.083; 1.187-3.7; P < 0.001), prenatal reproductive tract culture (2.219; 1.411-3.47; P < 0.05), and uterine exploration (0.441; 0.233-0.803; P < 0.001).A nomogram was then constructed based on these factors, and its predictive performance was assessed using the area under the curve (AUC). The results in both the training group data (AUC: 0.803) and the test group data (AUC: 0.788) demonstrated a good predictive value. The clinical impact curve (CIC) further highlighted the clinical utility of the nomogram., Conclusion: The development of an individualized nomogram for postpartum endometritis infection holds promise for doctors in screening high-risk women, enabling early intervention and ultimately reducing the rate of postpartum endometritis infection. This comprehensive approach, integrating key risk factors and predictive tools, enhances the potential for timely and targeted medical intervention., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Wang et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Background: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are one of the leading causes of maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Management of these conditions can pose many clinical dilemmas and can be particularly challenging during the immediate postpartum period. Models for predicting and managing postpartum hypertension are necessary to help address this clinical challenge., Objective: This study aimed to evaluate predictive models of blood pressure spikes in the postpartum period and to investigate clinical management strategies to optimize care., Study Design: This was a retrospective cohort study of postpartum women who participated in remote blood pressure monitoring. A postpartum blood pressure spike was defined as a blood pressure measurement of ≥140/90 mm Hg while on an antihypertensive medication and a blood pressure measurement of ≥150/100 mm Hg if not on an antihypertensive medication. We identified 3 risk level patient clusters (low, medium, and high) when predicting patient risk for a blood pressure spike on postpartum days 3 to 7. The variables used in defining these clusters were peak systolic blood pressure before discharge, body mass index, patient systolic blood pressure per trimester, heart rate, gestational age, maternal age, chronic hypertension, and gestational hypertension. For each risk cluster, we focused on 2 treatments, namely (1) postpartum length of stay (<3 days or ≥3 days) and (2) discharge with or without blood pressure medications. We evaluated the effectiveness of the treatments in different subgroups of patients by estimating the conditional average treatment effect values in each cluster using a causal forest. Moreover, for all patients, we considered discharge with medication policies depending on different discharge blood pressure thresholds. We used a doubly robust policy evaluation method to compare the effectiveness of the policies., Results: A total of 413 patients were included, and among those, 267 (64.6%) had a postpartum blood pressure spike. The treatments for patients at medium and high risk were considered beneficial. The 95% confidence intervals for constant marginal average treatment effect for antihypertensive use at discharge were -3.482 to 4.840 and - 5.539 to 4.315, respectively; and for a longer stay they were -5.544 to 3.866 and -7.200 to 4.302, respectively. For patients at low risk, the treatments were not critical in preventing a blood pressure spike with 95% confidence intervals for constant marginal average treatment effect of 1.074 to 15.784 and -2.913 to 9.021 for the different treatments. We considered the option to discharge patients with antihypertensive use at different blood pressure thresholds, namely (1) ≥130 mm Hg and/or ≥80 mm Hg, (2) ≥140 mm Hg and/or ≥90 mm Hg, (3) ≥150 mm Hg and/or ≥ 100 mm Hg, or (4) ≥160 mm Hg and/or ≥ 110 mm Hg. We found that policy (2) was the best option with P<.05., Conclusion: We identified 3 possible strategies to prevent outpatient blood pressure spikes during the postpartum period, namely (1) medium- and high-risk patients should be considered for a longer postpartum hospital stay or should participate in daily home monitoring, (2) medium- and high-risk patients should be prescribed antihypertensives at discharge, and (3) antihypertensive treatment should be prescribed if patients are discharged with a blood pressure of ≥140/90 mm Hg., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

This case report examines peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM), a rare variant of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, which manifests at the end of labor or puerperium. The frequency of this pathology varies globally, and its association with risk factors such as genetic disorders, autoimmune diseases, viral infections, suggests a multifactorial etiology. Diagnostic criteria include: Heart failure secondary to left ventricular systolic dysfunction, manifested in the puerperium or at the end of pregnancy and lack of other identifiable causes of heart failure. The case presents a patient with no significant personal pathological history, who, 17 days post cesarean section developed acute symptoms, including abdominal pain, dry cough and dyspnea. Clinical findings revealed hypoxemia, alterations in blood tests and an echocardiogram that confirmed an atrial septal defect. Multidisciplinary management resulted in successful treatment and the patient was discharged without complications. This case highlights the importance of MCPP, a disease with high maternal mortality. The connection between atrial septal defect and PPCM, as well as the involvement of pulmonary thromboembolism., (Copyright © 2024 SEH-LELHA. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Background: Postpartum hypertension is a major contributor to the rising maternal mortality rates in the United States, with nearly half of maternal deaths occurring after delivery. Previous studies have found evidence that the maximum blood pressure reading during labor and delivery admission can predict readmission; however, the optimal blood pressure to reduce the need for readmissions and additional medical treatment in the postpartum period is not known., Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between postpartum blood pressure control at discharge and readmission within the first 6 weeks after delivery., Study Design: Data were obtained from Cosmos, an electronic health record-based, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act-defined limited dataset that includes more than 1.4 million birth encounters. All birthing parents with blood pressure data after delivery were included. Demographic information, medications, and readmissions were queried from the dataset. Patients were grouped into categories based on blood pressure readings in the 24 hours before discharge (≥160/110, ≥150/100, ≥140/90, ≥130/80, ≥120/80, and <120/80 mm Hg). The readmission rates across these groups were compared. Planned subanalyses included stratification by the use of antihypertensive medications and a sensitivity analysis using the highest blood pressure during admission. Covariates included maternal age, preexisting diabetes mellitus or lupus erythematosus, and body mass index., Results: The analysis included 1,265,766 total birth encounters, 391,781 (30.9%) in the referent group (120/80 mm Hg), 392,592 (31.0%) in the group with <120/80 mm Hg, 249,414 (19.7%) in the group with ≥130/80 mm Hg, 16,125 (1.3%) in the group with ≥140/90 mm Hg, 50,659 (4.0%) in the group with ≥150/100 mm Hg, and 20,196 (1.6%) in the group with ≥160/110 mm Hg. In the first 6 weeks after delivery, readmission rates increased with higher blood pressure readings. More than 5% of postpartum patients with the highest blood pressure readings (≥160/110 mm Hg) were readmitted. These patients were almost 3 times more likely to be readmitted than patients whose highest blood pressure reading fell into the referent group (120/80 mm Hg) (odds ratio [OR], 2.90; 95% confidence interval, 2.69-3.12). Patients with blood pressures of >150/100 mm Hg (odds ratio, 2.72; 95% confidence interval, 2.58-2.87), >140/90 mm Hg (odds ratio, 2.03; 95% confidence interval, 1.95-2.11), and >130/80 mm Hg (odds ratio, 1.43; 95% confidence interval, 1.37-1.49) all had higher odds of readmission, whereas patients with a blood pressure of <120/80 mm Hg had a lower odds of readmission (odds ratio, 0.78; 95% confidence interval, 0.75-0.81). Patients who had higher blood pressures during admission but had improved control in the 24 hours before discharge had lower rates of readmission than those whose blood pressures remained elevated. In all blood pressure categories, patients who received an antihypertensive prescription had higher rates of readmission., Conclusion: In this large, national dataset, blood pressure control at discharge and readmission in the postpartum period were significantly correlated. Our data should inform postpartum hypertension treatment goals and the role of remote monitoring programs in improving maternal safety., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Labor and delivery can entail complications and severe maternal morbidities that threaten a woman's life or cause her to believe that her life is in danger. Women with these experiences are at risk for developing posttraumatic stress disorder. Postpartum posttraumatic stress disorder, or childbirth-related posttraumatic stress disorder, can become an enduring and debilitating condition. At present, validated tools for a rapid and efficient screen for childbirth-related posttraumatic stress disorder are lacking., Objective: We examined the diagnostic validity of the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, for detecting posttraumatic stress disorder among women who have had a traumatic childbirth. This Checklist assesses the 20 Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and is a commonly used patient-administrated screening instrument. Its diagnostic accuracy for detecting childbirth-related posttraumatic stress disorder is unknown., Study Design: The sample included 59 patients who reported a traumatic childbirth experience determined in accordance with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, posttraumatic stress disorder criterion A for exposure involving a threat or potential threat to the life of the mother or infant, experienced or perceived, or physical injury. The majority (66%) of the participants were less than 1 year postpartum (for full sample: median, 4.67 months; mean, 1.5 years) and were recruited via the Mass General Brigham's online platform, during the postpartum unit hospitalization or after discharge. Patients were instructed to complete the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, concerning posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms related to childbirth. Other comorbid conditions (ie, depression and anxiety) were also assessed. They also underwent a clinician interview for posttraumatic stress disorder using the gold-standard Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. A second administration of the Checklist was performed in a subgroup (n=43), altogether allowing an assessment of internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and convergent and diagnostic validity of the Checklist. The diagnostic accuracy of the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, in reference to the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, was determined using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve; an optimal cutoff score was identified using the Youden's J index., Results: One-third of the sample (35.59%) met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, criteria for a posttraumatic stress disorder diagnosis stemming from childbirth. The Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, symptom severity score was strongly correlated with the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, total score (ρ=0.82; P<.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.93 (95% confidence interval, 0.87-0.99), indicating excellent diagnostic performance of the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. A cutoff value of 28 optimized the sensitivity (0.81) and specificity (0.90) and correctly diagnosed 86% of women. A higher value (32) identified individuals with more severe posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms (specificity, 0.95), but with lower sensitivity (0.62). Checklist scores were also stable over time (intraclass correlation coefficient, 0.73), indicating good test-retest reliability. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, scores were moderately correlated with the depression and anxiety symptom scores (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale: ρ=0.58; P<.001 and the Brief Symptom Inventory, anxiety subscale: ρ=0.51; P<.001)., Conclusion: This study demonstrates the validity of the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, as a screening tool for posttraumatic stress disorder among women who had a traumatic childbirth experience. The instrument may facilitate screening for childbirth-related posttraumatic stress disorder on a large scale and help identify women who might benefit from further diagnostics and services. Replication of the findings in larger, postpartum samples is needed., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Importance: Innovative approaches are needed to address the increasing rate of postpartum morbidity and mortality associated with hypertensive disorders., Objective: To determine whether assessing maternal blood pressure (BP) and associated symptoms at time of well-child visits is associated with increased detection of postpartum preeclampsia and need for hospitalization for medical management., Design, Setting, and Participants: This is a pre-post quality improvement (QI) study. Individuals who attended the well-child visits between preimplementation (December 2017 to December 2018) were compared with individuals who enrolled after the implementation of the QI program (March 2019 to December 2019). Individuals were enrolled at an academic pediatric clinic. Eligible participants included birth mothers who delivered at the hospital and brought their newborn for well-child check at 2 days, 2 weeks, and 2 months. A total of 620 individuals were screened in the preintervention cohort and 680 individuals were screened in the QI program. Data was analyzed from March to July 2022., Exposures: BP evaluation and preeclampsia symptoms screening were performed at the time of the well-child visit. A management algorithm-with criteria for routine or early postpartum visits, or prompt referral to the obstetric emergency department-was followed., Main Outcome and Measures: Readmission due to postpartum preeclampsia. Comparisons across groups were performed using a Fisher exact test for categorical variables, and t tests or Mann-Whitney tests for continuous variables., Results: A total of 595 individuals (mean [SD] age, 27.2 [6.1] years) were eligible for analysis in the preintervention cohort and 565 individuals (mean [SD] age, 27.0 [5.8] years) were eligible in the postintervention cohort. Baseline demographic information including age, race and ethnicity, body mass index, nulliparity, and factors associated with increased risk for preeclampsia were not significantly different in the preintervention cohort and postintervention QI program. The rate of readmission for postpartum preeclampsia differed significantly in the preintervention cohort (13 individuals [2.1%]) and the postintervention cohort (29 individuals [5.6%]) (P = .007). In the postintervention QI cohort, there was a significantly earlier time frame of readmission (median [IQR] 10.0 [10.0-11.0] days post partum for preintervention vs 7.0 [6.0-10.5] days post partum for postintervention; P = .001). In both time periods, a total of 42 patients were readmitted due to postpartum preeclampsia, of which 21 (50%) had de novo postpartum preeclampsia., Conclusions and Relevance: This QI program allowed for increased and earlier readmission due to postpartum preeclampsia. Further studies confirming generalizability and mitigating associated adverse outcomes are needed.

Pregnancy and puerperium are critical points in women's health, and various psychiatric emergencies may worsen or manifest (for the first time) during this period. In the presence of a psychiatric emergency, the pregnancy and puerperium outcomes may be compromised. In addition to the mother being at risk, the health of the fetus and the newborn may also be compromised if the psychiatric emergency is not managed appropriately. Early detection and collaborative approaches between mental health practitioners and obstetricians are of utmost importance in women who are at risk and those living with psychiatric illnesses during pregnancy and puerperium. Practitioners should also ensure that women with impaired capacity due to psychiatric disease are treated in a non-judgmental and respectful manner, even if their autonomies have been overridden., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest B.C. has received honoraria for speaking at educational events and/or being part of the advisory boards of Adcock Ingram, Dr Reddys, Janssen, and Pfizer. L.T, S.P and B. D declared no conflict of interests., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The aim of the present study is to systematically review the current literature about diagnosis and treatment of acute inflammatory sacroiliitis in pregnant or post-partum women. A systematic search was carried out according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Data about clinical presentation, diagnosis methods and treatment strategies were retrieved from included studies and reported in a table. After screening, five studies on 34 women were included; they were all affected by acute inflammatory sacroiliitis. Clinical examination and magnetic resonance imaging were used to confirm diagnosis. In four studies, patients were treated with ultrasound-guided sacroiliac injections of steroids and local anesthetics, while one study used only manual mobilization. Clinical scores improved in all patients. Ultrasound-guided injections proved to be a safe and effective strategy for inflammatory sacroiliitis treatment during pregnancy or post-partum., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Purpose of Review: Postpartum anemia (PPA) is common in women after childbirth and affects about 50-80% of all women worldwide. Iron deficiency (ID) is the main cause for anemia and constitutes a potentially preventable condition with great impact on the mother's physical and mental condition after delivery. In most cases, PPA is associated with antenatal ID and peripartum blood losses. Numerous published studies confirmed the positive effect of PPA diagnosis and treatment., Recent Findings: Iron deficiency as well as iron deficiency anemia (IDA) are common in the postpartum period and represent significant health problems in women of reproductive age., Summary: Important movements towards early detection and therapy of postpartum anemia have been observed. However, postpartum anemia management is not implemented on a large scale as many healthcare professionals are not aware of the most recent findings in the field. Diagnosis and therapy of PPA, particularly iron supplementation in ID and IDA, has proven to be highly effective with a tremendous effect on women's wellbeing and outcome., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background: This study aimed to determine whether birthing people who experience severe maternal morbidity (SMM) are more likely to be diagnosed with a postpartum mental illness. Materials and Methods: Using the Massachusetts All Payer Claims Database, this study used modified Poisson regression analysis to assess the association of SMM with mental illness diagnosis during the postpartum year, accounting for prenatal mental illness diagnoses and other patient characteristics. Results: There were 128,161 deliveries identified, with 55.0% covered by Medicaid. Of these, 3.1% experienced SMM during pregnancy and/or delivery hospitalization, and 20.1% had a mental illness diagnosis within 1 year postpartum. In adjusted regression analyses, individuals with SMM had a 10.6% increased risk of having any mental illness diagnosis compared to individuals without SMM, primarily due to an increased risk of a depression or post-traumatic stress disorder diagnosis among people with SMM than those without SMM. Conclusions: Individuals who experienced SMM had a higher risk of a mental illness diagnosis in the postpartum year. Given increases in SMM in the United States in recent decades, policies to mitigate mental health sequelae of SMM are urgently needed.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the recovery rate of the left ventricular systolic function of women diagnosed with peripartum cardiomyopathy receiving specialized care in rural Tanzania., Methods: In this observational study, women diagnosed with peripartum cardiomyopathy at a referral center in rural Tanzania between December 2015 and September 2021 were included. Women diagnosed between February and September 2021 were followed prospectively, those diagnosed between December 2015 and January 2021 were tracked back for a follow-up echocardiography. All participants received a clinical examination, a comprehensive echocardiogram, and a prescription of guideline-directed medical therapy. The primary outcome was recovery of the left ventricular systolic function (left ventricular ejection fraction > 50%)., Results: Median age of the 110 participants was 28.5 years (range 17-45). At enrolment, 49 (45%) participants were already on cardiac medication, 50 (45%) had severe eccentric hypertrophy of the left ventricle, and the median left ventricular ejection fraction was 30% (range 15-46). After a median follow-up of 8.98 months (IQR 5.72-29.37), 61 (55%) participants were still on cardiac medication. Full recovery of the left ventricular systolic function was diagnosed in 76 (69%, 95% CI 59.6-77.6%) participants. In the multivariate analysis, a higher left ventricular ejection fraction at baseline was positively associated with full recovery (each 5% increase; OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.10-2.62, p = 0.012), while higher age was inversely associated (each 10 years increase; OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.19-0.82, p = 0.012)., Conclusion: Left ventricular systolic function recovered completely in 69% of study participants with peripartum cardiomyopathy from rural Tanzania under specialized care., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) remains a significant challenge in maternal health, marked by its unpredictable onset and varied clinical outcomes. With rising incidence rates globally, understanding PPCM is vital for improving maternal care and prognosis. This review aims to consolidate current knowledge on PPCM, highlighting recent advancements in its diagnosis, management, and therapeutic approaches. This comprehensive review delves into the epidemiology of PPCM, underscoring its global impact and demographic variations. We explore the complex etiology of the condition, examining known risk factors and discussing the potential pathophysiological mechanisms, including oxidative stress and hormonal influences. The clinical presentation of PPCM, often similar yet distinct from other forms of cardiomyopathy, is analyzed to aid in differential diagnosis. Diagnostic challenges are addressed, emphasizing the role of advanced imaging and biomarkers. Current management strategies are reviewed, focusing on the absence of disease-specific treatments and the application of general heart failure protocols. The review also discusses the prognosis of PPCM, factors influencing recovery, and the implications for future pregnancies. Finally, we highlight emerging research directions and the urgent need for disease-specific therapies, aiming to provide a roadmap for future studies and improved patient care. This review serves as a crucial resource for clinicians and researchers, contributing to a deeper understanding and better management of PPCM., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a rare but significant cause of new-onset heart failure (HF) during the peri- and post-partum periods. Advances in GDMT for HF with reduced ventricular function have led to substantial improvements in survival and quality of life, yet few studies examine the longitudinal care received by patients with PPCM. The aim of this research is to address this gap by retrospectively characterizing patients with PPCM across a multihospital health system and investigating the frequency of cardiology and HF specialty referrals. Understanding whether surveillance and medical management differ among patients referred to HF will help to underscore the importance of referring patients with PPCM to HF specialists for optimal care., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Rationale: Uterine inversion is a rare medical condition that is categorized as puerperal and nonpuerperal. Repositioning of uterine involution can be done manually or surgically, the latter of which involves abdominal manipulation and disruption of the integrity of the uterine wall, which can lead to complications for the patient in subsequent pregnancies, such as uterine rupture., Patient Concerns: We report a case of acute puerperal uterine inversion that was manually repositioned transvaginally. An ultrasonogram and reset schematic were also presented. A 23-year-old woman (gravida 1 para 0) was admitted to the hospital with a full-term pregnancy., Diagnoses: In the postpartum period, we found placental adhesions and uterine inversion into the uterine cavity, which was confirmed by bedside ultrasound., Interventions and Outcomes: We administered analgesic, relieving uterine spasms, and antishock therapy along with manual stripping of the placenta and ultrasound-guided uterine repositioning. After successful repositioning the patient vaginal bleeding decreased rapidly and she was discharged 3 days after delivery., Lessons: Early recognition, antishock therapy and prompt repositioning are key in the management of puerperal uterine inversion. We hope that this case will enable clinicians to better visualize the ultrasound imaging of uterine inversion and the process of manual repositioning., Competing Interests: The authors have no funding and conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Rationale: Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) occurring in the context of hypertension presents a unique clinical challenge. This case contributes to the medical literature by highlighting the complexities of managing heart failure in postpartum women with pre-existing hypertensive disorders, particularly when complicated by a history of preeclampsia., Patient Concerns: Mrs. O.O., a 34-year-old hypertensive woman, presented with progressive dyspnea, bilateral leg swelling, and orthopnea. Notably, she had a history of previous preeclampsia and exhibited worsening symptoms over several months., Diagnoses: The patient was diagnosed with decompensated heart failure secondary to PPCM, exacerbated by hypertension and anemia., Interventions: Therapeutic interventions included diuretics, angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors, digoxin, and anticoagulation. Additionally, lifestyle modifications and dietary restrictions were implemented., Outcomes: Following treatment adjustments, the patient demonstrated significant improvement in symptoms, exercise tolerance, and cardiac function. The transition from NYHA class III to class II heart failure indicated successful management., Lessons: This case underscores the importance of a comprehensive approach to managing PPCM in hypertensive patients, with attention to cardiovascular and obstetric factors. It highlights the effectiveness of multidisciplinary care in achieving positive outcomes and emphasizes the need for heightened vigilance in postpartum women with cardiovascular risk factors., Competing Interests: The authors have no funding and conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) causes pregnancy-associated heart failure, typically during the last month of pregnancy, and up to 6 months post-partum, in women without known cardiovascular disease. PPCM is a global disease, but with a significant geographical variability within and between countries. Its true incidence in Africa is still unknown because of the lack of a PPCM population-based study. The variability in the epidemiology of PPCM between and within countries could be due to differences in the prevalence of both genetic and non-genetic risk factors. Several risk factors have been implicated in the aetiopathogenesis of PPCM over the years. Majority of patients with PPCM present with symptoms and signs of congestive cardiac failure. Diagnostic work up in PPCM is prompted by strong clinical suspicion, but Echocardiography is the main imaging technique for diagnosis. The management of PPCM involves multiple disciplines - cardiologists, anaesthetists, intensivists, obstetricians, neonatologists, and the prognosis varies widely., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing interest None declared by all the authors., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) remains an important cause of maternal morbidity and mortality globally. The pathophysiology remains incompletely understood, and the diagnosis is often missed or delayed., Objectives: This study explored the serum proteome profile of patients with newly diagnosed PPCM, as compared with matched healthy postpartum mothers, to unravel novel protein biomarkers that would further an understanding of the pathogenesis of PPCM and improve diagnostic precision., Methods: Study investigators performed untargeted serum proteome profiling using data-independent acquisition-based label-free quantitative liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry on 84 patients with PPCM, as compared with 29 postpartum healthy controls (HCs). Significant changes in protein intensities were determined with nonpaired Student's t-tests and were further classified by using the Boruta algorithm. The proteins' diagnostic performance was evaluated by area under the curve (AUC) and validated using the 10-fold cross-validation., Results: Patients with PPCM presented with a mean left ventricular ejection fraction of 33.5% ± 9.3% vs 57.0% ± 8.8% in HCs (P < 0.001). Study investigators identified 15 differentially up-regulated and 14 down-regulated proteins in patients with PPCM compared with HCs. Seven of these proteins were recognized as significant by the Boruta algorithm. The combination of adiponectin, quiescin sulfhydryl oxidase 1, inter-α-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain, and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide had the best diagnostic precision (AUC: 0.90; 95% CI: 0.84-0.96) to distinguish patients with PPCM from HCs., Conclusions: Salient biologic themes related to immune response proteins, inflammation, fibrosis, angiogenesis, apoptosis, and coagulation were predominant in patients with PPCM compared with HCs. These newly identified proteins warrant further evaluation to establish their role in the pathogenesis of PPCM and potential use as diagnostic markers., Competing Interests: Funding Support and Author Disclosures Since the start of EORP, the following companies have supported the whole research program: Abbott Vascular International (2011-2021), Amgen Cardiovascular (2009-2018), AstraZeneca (2014-2021), Bayer AG (2009-2018), Boehringer Ingelheim (2009-2019), Boston Scientific (2009-2012), Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer Alliance (2011-2019), Daiichi Sankyo Europe GmbH (2011-2020), Daiichi Sankyo Europe GmbH and Eli Lilly and Company Alliance (2014-2017), Edwards Lifesciences (2016-2019), Gedeon Richter Plc (2014-2016), Menarini Int Op (2009-2012), Merck Sharp & Dohme–Merck and Co (2011-2014), Novartis Pharma AG (2014-2020), ResMed (2014-2016), Sanofi (2009-2011), Servier (2009-2021), and Vifor (2019-2022). Dr Hoevelmann has received speaker honoraria from Boehringer Ingelheim. Dr Tromp has received support from the National University of Singapore Start-up Grant, the Tier 1 Grant from the Ministry of Education, and the CS-IRG New Investigator Grant from the National Medical Research Council; has received consulting or speaker fees from Daiichi Sankyo, Boehringer Ingelheim, Roche Diagnostics, and Us2.ai; and owns patent US-10702247-B2 unrelated to the present work. Dr Sliwa has funded the proteomic analysis using her unconditional research grants; and has received support from Servier: Institut La Conference Hippocrate for funding of a statistical analysis program. All other authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose., (Copyright © 2023 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Rationale: Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a rare complication commonly associated with headache and acute changes in blood pressure that results from a variety of causes, culminating in vasogenic cerebral edema in the occipital and parietal lobes of the brain., Patient Concerns: We report here a woman who suffered from headache, generalized tonic-clonic seizures, and cortical blindness in the late postpartum period., Diagnoses: Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome., Interventions: The patient was treated with amlodipine besylate tablets for hypertension, dehydration with mannitol and glycerin fructose, and antispasmodic treatment with sodium valproate and oxcarbazepine., Outcomes: On day 2, the patient became conscious, headache and vision improved. One week later, symptoms and signs disappeared, blood pressure returned to normal, and brain MRI lesions disappeared in re-examination., Lessons: Eclampsia associated with PRES is reversible in most cases, but it is a serious and potentially life-threatening obstetric emergency. If adequate treatment is provided in a timely manner, most women will make a full recovery. Attention needs to be paid to timely and adequate treatment, as well as appropriate follow-up and support for patients with PRES., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2023 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a rare type of heart failure manifesting towards the end of pregnancy or in the months following delivery, in the absence of any other cause of heart failure. There is a wide range of incidence across countries reflecting different population demographics, uncertainty over definitions and under-reporting. Race, ethnicity, multiparity and advanced maternal age are considered important risk factors for the disease. Its etiopathogenesis is incompletely understood and is likely multifactorial, including hemodynamic stresses of pregnancy, vasculo-hormonal factors, inflammation, immunology and genetics. Affected women present with heart failure secondary to reduced left ventricular systolic function (LVEF <45%) and often with associated phenotypes such as LV dilatation, biatrial dilatation, reduced systolic function, impaired diastolic function, and increased pulmonary pressure. Electrocardiography, echocardiography, magnetic resonance imaging, endomyocardial biopsy, and certain blood biomarkers aid in diagnosis and management. Treatment for peripartum cardiomyopathy depends on the stage of pregnancy or postpartum, disease severity and whether the woman is breastfeeding. It includes standard pharmacological therapies for heart failure, within the safety restrictions for pregnancy and lactation. Targeted therapies such as bromocriptine have shown promise in early, small studies, with large definitive trials currently underway. Failure of medical interventions may require mechanical support and transplantation in severe cases. Peripartum cardiomyopathy carries a high mortality rate of up to 10% and a high risk of relapse in subsequent pregnancies, but over half of women present normalization of LV function within a year of diagnosis., (Copyright © 2023 Sociedade Portuguesa de Cardiologia. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a relatively rare, potentially life-threatening, idiopathic form of cardiomyopathy that affects previously healthy young women during late pregnancy or in the early postpartum period and is characterized by left ventricular systolic dysfunction in the absence of any other identifiable cardiac causes. Morbidity and mortality with PPCM are remarkably high and it continues to be one of the leading causes of maternal death. Although remarkable advances have been made in our understanding of PPCM in the last few decades, unanswered questions remain regarding its pathophysiology, diagnostic workup, and management options. In this article, we will complete an updated, comprehensive review of PPCM, including the epidemiology and risk factors, proposed etiology, presentation and complications, management, prognostic indicators and outcomes. In addition, we will identify current challenges and gaps in knowledge., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The occurrence of thyrotoxicosis during pregnancy is mainly attributed to gestational transient thyrotoxicosis (GTT) and Graves' disease (GD). It is important to distinguish between GTT and Graves' disease because the two diseases are treated very differently. However, a gold standard for the differential diagnosis of the two diseases is currently lacking, and the most common method of differentiation is based on past medical history and clinical presentation combined with thyroid-related antibodies., Methods: A literature search of the electronic databases PubMed, Embase, Medline, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, China Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, Chinese Scientific Journals Full Text Database and China Biomedical CD-ROM was performed. The search period ranged from journal inception until 2022. We used the following search terms in "All fields": {["thyroid" (common field) OR "thyroid" (subject line)] OR "hyperthyroidism" (common field)} AND {["pregnancy" (title) OR "pregnancy" (title)] AND "one over" (common field)} OR {["pregnancy" (common field) OR "pregnancy" (common field) OR "pregnancy" (subject line)] AND "Graves'" (common field)}., Results: In recent years, some clinical studies at home and abroad have proposed other meaningful differential indicators, such as thyroid stimulating hormone, chorionic gonadotropin, thyroid hormone levels and thyroid ultrasound., Conclusion: The differential diagnostic significance of each of these indicators is summarised here with the goal of providing a better reference for the differential diagnosis of hyperthyroidism during pregnancy in clinical practice., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a left ventricular systolic dysfunction associated with heart failure (HF) in late-term pregnancy or peripartum. A 29-year-old pregnant woman with no history of cardiac disease noted lower extremity edema around 34 weeks' gestation with significant weight gain. She delivered twins via caesarean section, and the edema regressed postpartum. On postpartum day 4, however, she experienced difficulty breathing at night and was diagnosed with HF owing to PPCM. HF treatment along with cabergoline was initiated. With low prolactin blood levels, her symptoms and cardiac function improved over time. This case demonstrated the usefulness of anti-prolactin therapy with cabergoline in PPCM.

Background: Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a potentially life-threatening complication of pregnancy, but identifying patients at higher risk of this condition remains difficult., Objectives: We conducted a study to identify new risk factors associated with PPCM and predictors of poor outcomes., Methods: This retrospective analysis included a total of 44 women with PPCM. As a control group, 79 women who gave birth around the same time as the PPCM patients and who did not have organic disease were included. A multivariate regression analysis was conducted to identify risk factors associated with PPCM and with delayed recovery., Results: All PPCM patients were discharged within 28 days. In comparison to the control group, PPCM patients had higher rates of preeclampsia (20.4% vs. 1.27%, P<0.001), autoimmune disease (27.3% vs. 11.4%, P = 0.018), and cesarean delivery with preterm labor (31.8% vs. 17.7%, P = 0.037). The neonates of PPCM patients had lower birth weight (2.70±0.66 kg vs. 3.21±0.57 kg, P<0.001). PPCM patients had higher levels of C-reactive protein, d-dimer, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), and serum phosphorus, but lower levels of albumin and serum calcium (all P<0.001). In all patients with PPCM, the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) returned to normal (≥50%) within 28 days after admission. Subjects with early recovery (n = 34) had lower BNP than those with delayed recovery (n = 10) (649.7 ± 526.0 pg/mL vs. 1444.1 ± 1040.8 pg/mL, P = 0.002). Multivariate regression led to a three-point score system to predict PPCM (1 point each for the presence of pericardial effusion, left ventricular dilatation, and d-dimer level ≥0.5 μg/mL). At a cutoff of ≥2, this scoring system predicted delayed recovery with 95.5% sensitivity and 96.1% specificity. The negative predictive value was 97.4% and the positive predictive value was 93.3%. Binary logistic regression indicated that PPCM patients with pulmonary hypertension, lower hemoglobin, or worse LVEF tended to require longer hospital stay (minimum 14 days)., Conclusions: A risk score that consists of pericardial effusion, left ventricular dilatation, and d-dimer level ≥ 0.5 μg/mL could help streamline the diagnosis of PPCM prior to confirmatory investigations. Moreover, a risk score that consists of pulmonary hypertension, lower hemoglobin and worse LVEF could help to predict poor outcomes in PPCM patients., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI), and more specifically deep learning, models have demonstrated the potential to augment physician diagnostic capabilities and improve cardiovascular health if incorporated into routine clinical practice. However, many of these tools are yet to be evaluated prospectively in the setting of a rigorous clinical trial-a critical step prior to implementing broadly in routine clinical practice., Objectives: To describe the rationale and design of a proposed clinical trial aimed at evaluating an AI-enabled electrocardiogram (AI-ECG) for cardiomyopathy detection in an obstetric population in Nigeria., Design: The protocol will enroll 1,000 pregnant and postpartum women who reside in Nigeria in a prospective randomized clinical trial. Nigeria has the highest reported incidence of peripartum cardiomyopathy worldwide. Women aged 18 and older, seen for routine obstetric care at 6 sites (2 Northern and 4 Southern) in Nigeria will be included. Participants will be randomized to the study intervention or control arm in a 1:1 fashion. This study aims to enroll participants representative of the general obstetric population at each site. The primary outcome is a new diagnosis of cardiomyopathy, defined as left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < 50% during pregnancy or within 12 months postpartum. Secondary outcomes will include the detection of impaired left ventricular function (at different LVEF cut-offs), and exploratory outcomes will include the effectiveness of AI-ECG tools for cardiomyopathy detection, new diagnosis of cardiovascular disease, and the development of composite adverse maternal cardiovascular outcomes., Summary: This clinical trial focuses on the emerging field of cardio-obstetrics and will serve as foundational data for the use of AI-ECG tools in an obstetric population in Nigeria. This study will gather essential data regarding the utility of the AI-ECG for cardiomyopathy detection in a predominantly Black population of women and pave the way for clinical implementation of these models in routine practice., Trial Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT05438576., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest Mayo Clinic has licensed the underlying technology to EKO devices, a maker of digital stethoscopes with embedded electrocardiogram electrodes and to Anumana. Mayo Clinic may receive financial benefit from the use of this technology, but at no point will Mayo Clinic benefit financially from its use for the care of patients at Mayo Clinic. Drs Attia, Lopez-Jimenez, and Friedman may also receive financial benefit from this agreement., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Maternal mental health (MMH) problems, such as perinatal depression, maternal anxiety, suicide ideation and puerperal psychosis among others, have a significant impact on maternal morbidity and mortality, as well as the health and development of children. One in every four pregnant women and one in every five postpartum women in low-income countries, suffer from maternal mental health (MMH) problems. Despite this, MMH screening, diagnosis, and reporting remain scanty in Uganda. Consequently, this study aimed to investigate the knowledge, practices, and impediments that maternity care workers face when screening and managing women with maternal mental health disorders in health facilities in south-western Uganda., Methods: In-depth interviews were conducted with 22 health-care professionals who work in maternity care departments in primary and tertiary healthcare facilities in southwestern Uganda to investigate their medical knowledge, clinical practices, and challenges related to the screening and management of maternal mental health problems. Using qualitative content analysis, distinct categories and subcategories were found., Results: Medical staff especially midwives lacked specialized training in screening and managing women with maternal mental health problems They screened and managed MMH problems solely based on history and physical examination, and they referred nearly every mother displaying signs of mental illness because they felt ill-prepared to handle them. On the other hand, medical staff with some level of specialized training in mental health particularly staff working in mental health units, were more likely to use a mental health screening tool in addition to history and physical examination; and to treat any women exhibiting signs and symptoms of maternal mental problems without referring them. Lack of in-service training on maternal mental health, poorly coordinated referral systems, reluctance of mentally ill to visit medical facilities, scarcity of mental health specialists, and shortage of relevant medications were identified as the major challenges. Age, experience level, or gender had no effect on screening or management practices., Conclusions: The results suggest that specialized training in mental health, and particularly maternal mental health, is essential for the effective screening and management of maternal mental health conditions in South Western Uganda., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: Up-to-date data on population-level risk factors for postpartum psychosis is limited, although increasing substance use disorders, psychiatric disorders, autoimmune disorders, and other medical comorbidities in the obstetrical population may be contributing to the increased baseline risk of postpartum psychosis., Objective: This study aimed to determine trends in and risk factors for postpartum psychosis during delivery hospitalizations and postpartum readmissions., Study Design: Analyzing the 2016-2019 Nationwide Readmission Database, this repeated cross-sectional study identified diagnoses of postpartum psychosis during delivery hospitalizations and postpartum readmissions within 60 days of discharge. The relationship among demographic, clinical, and hospital-level factors present at delivery and postpartum psychosis was analyzed with logistic regression models with adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals as measures of association. Separate models were created for postpartum psychosis diagnoses at delivery and during postpartum readmission. Temporal trends in diagnoses were analyzed with Joinpoint regression to determine the average annual percent change with 95% confidence intervals., Results: Of 12,334,506 deliveries in the analysis, 13,894 (1.1 per 1000) had a diagnosis of postpartum psychosis during the delivery hospitalization, and 7128 (0.6 per 1000) had a 60-day postpartum readmission with postpartum psychosis. Readmissions with postpartum psychosis increased significantly during the study period (P=.046). Most readmissions with a postpartum psychosis diagnosis occurred in 0 to 10 days (43% of readmissions) or 11 to 20 days (18% of readmissions) after discharge. Clinical factors with the highest adjusted odds for postpartum psychosis readmission included delivery postpartum psychosis (adjusted odds ratio, 5.8; 95% confidence interval, 4.2-8.0), depression disorder (adjusted odds ratio, 3.7; 95% confidence interval, 3.3-4.2), bipolar spectrum disorder (odds ratio, 2.9; 95% confidence interval, 2.3-3.5), and schizophrenia spectrum disorder (adjusted odds ratio, 2.9; 95% confidence interval, 2.1-4.0). In models analyzing postpartum psychosis diagnoses at delivery, risk factors associated with the highest odds included anxiety disorder (adjusted odds ratio, 3.9; 95% confidence interval, 3.5-4.2), schizophrenia spectrum disorder (adjusted odds ratio, 2.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.9-3.4), bipolar disorder (adjusted odds ratio, 1.8; 95% confidence interval, 1.6-2.1), stillbirth (odds ratio, 3.6; 95% confidence interval, 3.1-4.2), and substance use disorder (odds ratio, 1.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.6-1.9). In addition, chronic conditions, such as pregestational diabetes mellitus, obesity, and substance use, were associated with delivery and readmission postpartum psychosis., Conclusion: This study determined that postpartum psychosis is increasing during postpartum readmissions and is associated with a wide range of obstetrical and medical comorbidities. Close follow-up care after delivery for other medical and obstetrical diagnoses may represent an opportunity to identify postpartum psychiatric conditions, including postpartum psychosis., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: The term "perinatal mental illness" refers to the set of psychiatric disorders that occur during pregnancy and up to one year after childbirth. The disorders that occurred before pregnancy along with the disorders that emerge during pregnancy or in the postpartum period are all considered perinatal mental illnesses. The causes of prenatal mental illness are still unknown. However, recent studies have shown a major risk in patients with autoimmune diseases (AIDs)., Evidence Acquisition: We performed a comprehensive search of relevant studies from February 2000 to December 2021 to ensure all possible studies were captured. A systematic search of PubMed databases was conducted. We selected "autoimmune disease" as the search term, combining with "perinatal mental illness," "perinatal depression" or "postpartum anxiety" or "postpartum psychosis" or "bipolar disorder" or "postpartum blues.", Evidence Synthesis: The results of our review show that patients with perinatal mental illness have higher risks of subsequent AIDs. In fact, when a woman develops perinatal mental illness, accurate counseling can be employed: on the one hand, the woman should be send to the psychiatrist, on the other hand she has to be informed about the increased risk of a future developement of AID., Conclusions: As described in the literature, correlation between perinatal mental illness and AID could bring new diagnostic opportunities, relevant for practical decisions. Further studies need to confirm the correlation between perinatal mental illness and AID.

Background: Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a rare neurological disorder with complex physiopathological mechanisms that have not been fully understood. Early identification is of great prognostic significance, of which the symptoms and radiological abnormalities can be completely reversed. If the diagnosis and treatment are delayed, ischemia and massive infarction may be developed in some patients. Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) has been reported mainly in association with postpartum eclampsia, which have been rarely reported, while the association with hypothyroidism has not been reported at home or abroad., Case Presentation: Here we report on a pregnant 29-year-old with multipara and a chief complication of hypothyroidism. She presented in the emergency department with frequent attacks of severe headache symptoms resulting from reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS), accompanied with prenatal eclampsia. PRES was determined by radiological examination., Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of PRES complicated by hypothyroidism and prepartum eclampsia.Clinicians should be alert for the co-occurence of eclampsia, PRES, and RCVS when patients have convulsions after a typical throbbing headache. Moreover, regular monitoring of thyroid function during pregnancy should also occupy certain special attention., (© 2023. The Author(s).)