OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinical features and prognosis of patients with peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM).

METHODSThe clinical data of 28 PPCM patients with PPCM diagnosed in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 1983 to December 2014 were retrospectively analyzed and followed up for at least 6 months or to death or cardiac transplantation.

RESULTSAll patients were presented with heart failure. Mean baseline left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was (36.2±11.8)%. After a median follow-up of 27 months, 16 of the 21 patients (76%) showed improvement in LVEF and 5 patients (24%) did not have improvement in their LVEF. Only 1 patient died. There were significant differences between improved and non-improved patients in baseline LVEF (P=0.007), baseline left ventricular end-diastolic dismension (LVEDD) (P=0.040), follow-up LVEF (P<0.001), and follow-up LVEDD (P<0.001). Cox regression analysis showed that higher LVEF (RR: 0.89, 95%CI: 0.83-0.96, P=0.002) and smaller LVEDD (RR: 0.90, 95%CI: 0.83-0.99, P=0.026) were predictors of improvement in LVEF.

CONCLUSIONSEarly diagnosis and regular treatment helps to improve the prognosis of PPCM. Patients with higher LVEF and smaller LVEDD appear to be the most likely to recover.