Presentation of PPCM:
Clinical presentation is extremely variable, from mild symptoms that can be attributed to pregnancy to acute heart failure.
Elevated JVP, S3 , and basal rales can be normal in pregnancy.
Most often, patients present with NYHA III or IV symptoms.
Patients may also present with ventricular arrhythmias, systemic embolism due to LV thrombus, or pulmonary embolism.
Investigations of PPCM:
Diagnosis is made by exclusion.
ECG is seldom normal, usually displaying ST-T abnormalities or LV hypertrophy voltage criteria.
Echocardiography: is essential for LV assessment.
MRI allows more accurate measurements, but gadolinium crosses the placenta and is not recommended during pregnancy.
BNP and NT-pro-BNP levels are raised.