Bromocriptine treatment associated with recovery from peripartum cardiomyopathy in siblings: two case reports | Meyer et al. Journal of Medical Case Reports 2010 4 80 http content 4 1 80 jA CASE REPORTS CASE REPORT Open Access Bromocriptine treatment associated with recovery from peripartum cardiomyopathy in siblings two case reports Gerd Peter Meyer 1 Saida Labidi 1 Edith Podewski1 Karen Sliwa2 Helmut Drexler1 and Denise Hilfiker-Kleiner 1 Abstract Introduction Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a rare form of cardiomyopathy with heterogeneous presentation occurring in women between one-month antepartum and six months postpartum. It carries a poor prognosis and a high risk of mortality. Case presentation We report the development of peripartum cardiomyopathy in two sisters 27- and 35-year-old African women one of whom presented with a large left ventricular thrombus. Subsequently both patients were treated with bromocriptine heparin and standard therapy for heart failure angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors beta-blockers and diuretics . During follow-up the left ventricular thrombus observed in one patient degraded. Neither patient experienced a thrombotic event and both experienced continuous improvements in cardiac function and New York Heart Association stage. Conclusion The development of peripartum cardiomyopathy in two sisters indicates that there may be a genetic basis for this type of cardiomyopathy and that women with a positive family history for peripartum cardiomyopathy may have an increased risk of developing the disease. This is also the first report of a patient experiencing degradation of a large left ventricular thrombus under standard therapy for heart failure with bromocriptine. It suggests that the use of bromocriptine in association with adequate anti-coagulation and heart failure therapy may be beneficial and safe. Introduction Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a distinct entity of dilated cardiomyopathy and occurs in women between one month antepartum and six months postpartum. Specific risk factors for .
