Re: Myocarditis

Posted By CCF CARDIO MD - DLB on June 24, 1998 at 14:41:00:

In Reply to: Myocarditis posted by Steven Zebic on June 22, 1998 at 07:34:18:






Approx 1 year ago my wife developed myocarditis.  She is 30 y.o in good health  and is the mother of two children.  She does not have a significant past history.  At the time of her diagnosis she had an ejection fraction of 20%.  6 weeks later without therapy her ejection fraction returned to 43%.  During her illness the only symptoms she complained about was tiredness and she had several ECG's which showed PAC's.  She is fine at the moment.  I have searched the internet for a while and have gained the impression that  a significant portion of idiopathic dilative cardiomyopathy may have a viral aetiology.  My question is this; would it be safe for her to proceede with a third pregnancy.  Our cardiologist feels that it would be safe but I would appreciate opinions of others
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Dear Steven:
If your wife had indeed been diagnosed with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy [usually due to an unspecified viral infection], the most important question is how is she doing now.  If she is asymptomatic and if her ejection fraction has returned to normal or close to normal now, then pregnancy should be well-tolerated.  It would be useful to know what her ejection fraction is now.
If her heart has not returned to normal, this does not preclude pregnancy, but does make it a bit riskier.  She should then be followed in a high-risk obstetrical program at a major medical center.
I wish you the best of luck.
Information provided here is of a general nature.  Specific diagnoses and treatments can only be made by your doctor.  If you would like to be seen at the Cleveland Clinic, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE for an appointment with a cardiologist at Desk F25.