Current issues in the diagnosis and management of peripartum cardiomyopathy.

Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a form of heart failure that occurs in women within 1 month pre- and 5 months postdelivery. The syndrome carries a high mortality and predisposing factors are not known. The incidence and prevalence of peripartum cardiomyopathy appear to be increasing and this article aims to alert clinicians to consider a possible diagnosis of peripartum cardiomyopathy, outlines the current treatment options, and describes recent advances in the understanding of the pathophysiology of this condition.