Anticoagulation Therapy in Specific Cardiomyopathies: Isolated Left Ventricular Noncompaction and Peripartum Cardiomyopathy

Abstract

In 2 distinct entities, left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) and peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM), routine anticoagulation therapy is often used in current practices. However, our systematic review showed that LVNC itself was not associated with the increase in thromboembolism event rates and therapeutic anticoagulation therapy should not be considered only for LVNC, unless there is risk factor for thromboembolism. Current literature justifies prophylactic therapeutic anticoagulation in LVNC with low left ventricular ejection fraction (EF < 40%) and/or atrial fibrillation. Although not specifically studied, the presence of intracardiac thrombi by echocardiography or other imaging studies should also prompt anticoagulation therapy. There is limited evidence available for the use of anticoagulation in patients with PPCM, but our systematic review showed that anticoagulation should be recommended only for patients with PPCM especially with an EF < 35% until EF is recovered, as well as for patients with PPCM treated with bromocriptine.

Keywords: anticoagulation; cardiomyopathy; noncompaction; peripartum cardiomyopathy.