Magnetic resonance imaging in a patient with peripartum cardiomyopathy

Abstract

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a form of heart failure that affects women late in pregnancy or early in peripartum. The present report describes a case of a patient with PPCM demonstrated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with late gadolinium enhancement of the left ventricle (LV). The late gadolinium enhancement of MRI improved associated with recovery of cardiac function. Endomyocardial biopsy showed mild cell infiltration and fibrosis. Thus, MRI may be useful for the evaluation of myocardial damage and to predict the outcome of PPCM.