Successful management of peripartum cardiomyopathy in a Kenyan setting: a case series

Abstract

Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a rare life-threatening condition occurring in previously healthy women with symptoms mimicking those of normal pregnancy and is associated with a high mortality rate. A high index of suspicion coupled with a sound understanding of the disease is crucial to correctly diagnose and manage the patients to improve final maternal outcomes. In this report, we present a total of five cases of peripartum cardiomyopathy in women aged 22 to 38 years who presented between 3 and 21 days postpartum. All patients presented with severely reduced ejection fractions indicative of heart failure and were immediately admitted to our facility. A timely diagnosis was made and patients started on a combination of antibiotics, anticoagulants, and anti-heart failure medication. Despite the severity of the disease upon presentation, early diagnosis and precise management of the disease were essential in achieving favorable patient outcomes. Therefore, this report provides crucial knowledge about the presentation and progression of peripartum cardiomyopathy and presents a treatment protocol from a Kenyan perspective that was successfully employed in the management of all five cases.