Peripartum Cardiomyopathy Due to Myocarditis

Abstract

PRIMARY myocardial disease that develops during the course of pregnancy is a rare but exacting diagnostic problem. The variation in the time of onset of this disease from the second trimester of pregnancy until well into the puerperium has led to debate regarding terminology.^{1 , 2} We refer to peripartum cardiomyopathy as the new presentation of primary myocardial disease during pregnancy or in the first five months after pregnancy.In the evaluation of patients with peripartum cardiomyopathy it is necessary to exclude or identify myocarditis immediately because of the important therapeutic implications. We have included endomyocardial biopsy in the diagnostic workup of . . .