Re: Peripartum Cardiomyopathy

Posted By CCF CARDIO MD - MTR on January 10, 1999 at 21:59:32:

In Reply to: Peripartum Cardiomyopathy posted by Karen on January 10, 1999 at 17:34:50:






On November 21st, I delivered twins (32 weeks gestation) by emergency C-section after being diagnosed with congestive heart failure.  11 days later, one of my babies died of an infection of the bowels and intestines (although the findings will only be final when the final autopsy report is complete).  Two weeks ago, I was told I made a full recovery.  My other twin is doing fine.  I am now told that I can't have more children.
Is there potentially any correlation between my baby's death and my heart failure (other than prematurity)?  Do you have any ideas on how I can pursue the question of whether I can have more children, and what type of questions should I be asking?  Are you aware of any studies on the subjection in which I can participate?



  
Dear Karen, thank you for your question.  This is a difficult issue to address in this forum.  I'm sorry to hear about your child's death, but without knowing more details, I can't offer an opinion on the cause of your child's death and whether your congestive heart failure was a contributory factor.  Certainly, you were  very sick with peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) since you needed to have an emergency C-section.  There have been no randomized, placebo-controlled trials of treatment for PPCM due to ethical concerns and the low incidence of this disease.  Only case series have been published and there are no definitive answers regarding further pregnancies.  Certainly, you would be at risk for developing CHF with further pregnancies and if that were to happen, you may not recover a second time.  The safest thing is to avoid future pregnancies, but if you truly want to have more children, then I suggest that you speak with your cardiologist and an obstetrician who specializes in high-risk deliveries.
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.  Good luck!
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.