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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Re: Fluid around the heart (a cups worth!)
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Re: Fluid around the heart (a cups worth!)
by Madelyn__0, Jan 01, 1995 12:00AM
Posted By Madelyn on October 24, 1998 at 12:12:15:
In Reply to: Re: Fluid around the heart (a cups worth!) posted by CCF CARDIO MD - CRC on October 21, 1998 at 13:57:31:
Hello,
I needed a little infomation regarding... Fluid around the Heart. I can't at this time remember the diagnoised name (Cardio?????).
Is there anything you can tell me about this condition. I was admitted into ER with what was said to be symptoms of Congestive Heart Failure. THe EKG was OK but X-rays showed that fluid was deposited in between the heart and the sack.
I'm 35 years hold and had a BABY two months ago. The Dr. has ruled this as a virus of somesort and I'm taking endocin(meds) for the inflammation. The fluid is still present, a cup full.
Is this a rare occurrence?
What types of stresses/activites would cause damage?
What types of test (i.e. stress test,etc.) can I take to asure
I can continue with my daily activities (I work outside the home)
Any additional general information that you have would be helpful.
Thank you for you time.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear DB,
Post-Partum (or peripartum) cardiomyopathy is a relatively rare form of heart failure that affects women during or following pregnancy. Establishing a diagnosis requires 1. The absence of a determinable cause for cardiac failure, 2. Absence of preexisting heart muscle disease, and 3. Time limitations of onset of illness from the last month of pregnancy to the first 5 post-partum months. Peripartum cardiomyopathy complicates 1 of 1300 to 4000 deliveries in the United States. This condition may affect women of any race, age, or number of prior deliveries; however, older, multigravida, African American and twin pregnancies are thought to represent predisposing features. The cause is unknown.
The treatment is standard heart failure medication (diuretics, digoxin, ACE inhibitors) and in severe cases heart transplant. Approximately half of patients with this diagnosis will return to normal within 6 months. Of those who do not return to normal the prognosis is poor with an average survival of 4.7 years after diagnosis (without transplant). Repeat pregnancies are not recommended for women who have had peripartum cardiomyopathy. You can find additional information in the following articles. (your local medical library should be able to help you find these).
Lampert, MB Lang RM. Peripartum cardiomyopathy. Am Heart J 1995; 130:860-870.
Huerta EM, Erice A, Espino RF, et al. Postpartum cardiomyopathy and acute myocarditis. Am Heart J 1985; 110:1079-1081.
I hope you find this information useful. Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only. Only your physician can provide specific diagnoses and therapies. Please feel free to write back with additional questions.
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.
In Reply to: Re: Fluid around the heart (a cups worth!) posted by CCF CARDIO MD - CRC on October 21, 1998 at 13:57:31:
Hello,
I needed a little infomation regarding... Fluid around the Heart. I can't at this time remember the diagnoised name (Cardio?????).
Is there anything you can tell me about this condition. I was admitted into ER with what was said to be symptoms of Congestive Heart Failure. THe EKG was OK but X-rays showed that fluid was deposited in between the heart and the sack.
I'm 35 years hold and had a BABY two months ago. The Dr. has ruled this as a virus of somesort and I'm taking endocin(meds) for the inflammation. The fluid is still present, a cup full.
Is this a rare occurrence?
What types of stresses/activites would cause damage?
What types of test (i.e. stress test,etc.) can I take to asure
I can continue with my daily activities (I work outside the home)
Any additional general information that you have would be helpful.
Thank you for you time.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear DB,
Post-Partum (or peripartum) cardiomyopathy is a relatively rare form of heart failure that affects women during or following pregnancy. Establishing a diagnosis requires 1. The absence of a determinable cause for cardiac failure, 2. Absence of preexisting heart muscle disease, and 3. Time limitations of onset of illness from the last month of pregnancy to the first 5 post-partum months. Peripartum cardiomyopathy complicates 1 of 1300 to 4000 deliveries in the United States. This condition may affect women of any race, age, or number of prior deliveries; however, older, multigravida, African American and twin pregnancies are thought to represent predisposing features. The cause is unknown.
The treatment is standard heart failure medication (diuretics, digoxin, ACE inhibitors) and in severe cases heart transplant. Approximately half of patients with this diagnosis will return to normal within 6 months. Of those who do not return to normal the prognosis is poor with an average survival of 4.7 years after diagnosis (without transplant). Repeat pregnancies are not recommended for women who have had peripartum cardiomyopathy. You can find additional information in the following articles. (your local medical library should be able to help you find these).
Lampert, MB Lang RM. Peripartum cardiomyopathy. Am Heart J 1995; 130:860-870.
Huerta EM, Erice A, Espino RF, et al. Postpartum cardiomyopathy and acute myocarditis. Am Heart J 1985; 110:1079-1081.
I hope you find this information useful. Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only. Only your physician can provide specific diagnoses and therapies. Please feel free to write back with additional questions.
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.
