One hundred cases of peripartum cardiomyopathy… and counting: what is going on?

Peripartum cardiomyopathy: A comprehensive review

“…A geographic predilection for the southern regions of the United States has been reported [25]. A relatively high incidence and prevalence of PPCM in the Hospital Albert Schweitzer (HAS) district of Haiti was reported by the PPCM Project [26][27][28]. PPCM is very rare in Europe [29], but common in West Africa [30].…”

Unrecognized peripartum cardiomyopathy in Haitian women

“…Among the principal reasons for this failure to understand PPCM is the relative rarity of its occurrence in single clinical centers within the Western world which are optimally staffed and equipped to address this problem. The relatively high incidence and prevalence of PPCM in the Hospital Albert Schweitzer (HAS) district of Haiti reported by the Peripartum Cardiomyopathy (PPCM) Project [1][2][3] has provided the opportunity to pursue the clinical course of this enigmatic disease and initiate studies aimed at defining the potential etiology. Although there is currently no adequate scientific explanation as to why the incidence of PPCM in Haiti is greater than that reported from all other geographic locations, including other ethnically black populations elsewhere in the world, a large prospective database of PPCM patients maintained for research purposes is beginning to yield some clues.…”

The duo low plasma NT-PRO-BRAIN natriuretic peptide and C-reactive protein indicates a complete remission of peripartum cardiomyopathy

“…Recently Fett et al [2], about 100 cases of PPCM in Haiti, point out the value of peripheral blood marker of an inflammatory process, the high sensitivity CReactive Protein (hsCRP). Besides they indicate the marked elevated mean B-type Natriuretic Peptide (pro-BNP) plasma levels in their patients compared to non-PPCM control Haitian mothers.…”