Difficult cases in heart failure: Left ventricular dysfunction related to septic shock masquerading as postpartum cardiomyopathy.

Peripartum cardiomyopathy, an uncommon cause of chronic heart failure, may present during the third trimester of pregnancy, but most often develops within 2 months postpartum. The etiologies of heart failure during pregnancy and postpartum are numerous, however. The authors describe the case of a 25-year-old woman who developed severe, symptomatic heart failure following delivery and discuss their initial consideration of peripartum cardiomyopathy and the differential diagnostic features of this case. (c)2001 CHF, Inc.