ABSTRACT
Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of pregnancy related deaths in the United States as well as the rest of the world. Peripartum cardiomyopathy and heart failure in pregnancy contribute to this mortality significantly, but can be difficult to diagnose, as the associated symptoms overlap with normal signs in pregnancy. Increased awareness and education can help discern between pathologic heart failure and physiologic symptoms of pregnancy. Continued advancement in diagnostic modalities, identifying risk factors, and exploring biological triggers that can be modified with therapy are integral to improving outcomes in this population of patients. Furthermore, awareness about a possible recurrence of heart failure with additional pregnancies is essential in providing comprehensive understanding of the disease.
