Background. Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a rare form but life-threatening disease condition of the myocardium resulting in decreased ventricular contractility that occurs in a previously healthy woman during the peripartum period. Currently, in our country and probably worldwide there is an absence of epidemiologic data and description of the profile and outcome of PPCM patients less than 19 years old.

Objective. To determine the clinical profile and outcome of peripartum cardiomyopathy among teenagers (14-18 years old) at the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital from 2004-2013

Methods. All patients aged 14-18 years old referred to Section of Pediatric Cardiology during a 10-year period from 2004-2013 who were diagnosed to have peripartum cardiomyopathy fulfilled the criteria set by National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) were included in the study. We retrieved the medical records of the 25 patients diagnosed with peripartum cardiomyopathy from 2004-2013. The 2D echocardiogram was retrieved from the Pediatric Cardiology Section.

Results. There were 25 teenagers with a mean age of 17 years old diagnosed with PPCM in UP-PGH in 2004-2013. Twenty-one patients (84%) had one sexual partner and two (8%) patients had multiple sexual partners. Their common co-morbidity was preeclampsia. The most common symptoms were dyspnea, easy fatigability, and orthopnea. Most patients presented with NYHA functional class III-IV.

The majority had poor LV contractility (mean EF of 29% and a mean FS of 12.7 %). All had left ventricular enlargement with mean LVEDd of 5.3 cm and mean LVESd of 4.2 cm. LV function improved in 72% of patients after six months. Four (16%) patients died because of myocardial failure.

Conclusion. Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a rare form of cardiomyopathy but it can occur among teenagers age 14-18 years of age. Compared with the previous study our patients are younger, and with a low prevalence of multiple pregnancy and promiscuity. Similar to other studies, preeclampsia and premature labor necessitating the use of tocolytics with Terbutaline are common comorbidities.

Pregnancy in Adolescence ; Heart Failure

Objective: This study determined the demographic data, clinical profile, treatment and outcome of BCN-IE in children at UP-PGH.

Methods: This is a retrospective study of children with BCN-IE admitted at UP-PGH from 2004-2013. Demographic data, clinical presentation, previous antibiotic use, echocardiographic findings, an antibiotic used and outcome of patients were recorded and analyzed. Results in the demographic and clinical profile were expressed as frequencies, percentages and means. To compare the clinical features, echocardiographic findings and antibiotic regimen used as to the outcome, Fischer's exact test was used.

Results: Among 91 patients diagnosed with infective endocarditis, 61.54% had BCN-IE. The age, gender and clinical presentation were similar to other studies. Clinical presentation and echocardiographic findings did not have influence on outcome of children with BCN-IE. The use of penicillin G and amikacin is associated with unfavorable outcome after 4 weeks or less of administration.

Conclusion: The incidence of BCN-IE is high in UP-PGH. The demographic distribution, clinical and echocardiographic features of patients do not have an influence on the outcome. The trend to the unfavorable outcome with the use of penicillin suggests the need to target fastidious organisms in BCN-IE. Further investigation is warranted to establish the etiologic agents of BCN-IE.

Human ; Male ; Female ; Adolescent (a Person 13-18 Years Of Age) ; Child Preschool (a Child Between The Ages Of 2 And 5) ; Child ; Retrospective Studies ; Endocarditis, Bacterial