Leptospirosis and Weil´s syndrome

Abstract

Peripartum cardiomyopathy consists of cardiomyopathy with associated systolic dysfunction occurring in the pregnant woman near term or in the first few weeks postpartum. Risk factors for peripartum cardiomyopathy include African ancestry, pregnancy associated hypertensive disorders such as preeclampsia, advanced maternal age (over 30 years old) and multiple gestation pregnancy. Various physiopathological mechanisms have been proposed to be causative, such as a rise in prolactin levels, lowered antioxidant transcription factors, e.g. STAT3, and a rise in placental originated proteins like sFlt-1, which together produce endothelial dysfunction and apoptosis of cardiomyocytes. Is a diagnosis of exclusion; for women in the peripartum period who present with heart failure symptoms other causes must be excluded, including preexistent dilated or valvular cardiomyopathy, acute myocardial infarction and pulmonary thromboembolism. Currently management is based on the basic treatment for heart failure and hemodynamic support in patients that require it.