PostPartumCardiomyopothy or not?

[justine79]

Hi, I have been diagnosed with PPCM....But now my cardiologist thinks that it may have come from my high blood pressure. I was at an ef of 15% and my pressure was 170/120. Within 10 weeks I went to 50, and doc believes I will recover fully, but they cnat seem to control my pressure, again at 168/128. I was diagnosed as pre-eclamptic. What do you think the chances are that I actually had chronic hypertension? I have nothing to go on becasue I had not seen a doc for 4 years befor the pregnancy. Cant untreated high bloodpressure lead to cardiomyopathy which leads to CHF? I really want to have another baby, so thats why im trying to find out everything that I can.
   Thanks,
      Justine

[CCF-M.D.-KE]

Dear Justine79,

Hope everything goes well with your new baby. Untreated hypertension can lead to congestive heart failure or weakening of the heart muscle. However, this usually occurs over decades and is not readily reversible. I have not reveiwed the specifics of your case but I think Peripartum Cardiomyopathy is a likely cause of what happened. This is important because women who have experienced peripartum cardiomyopathy are at risk for recurrence. Discuss this further with your doctor.


Thanks for your question,


CCF-MD-KE