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Rapid left ventricular recovery after cabergoline treatment in a patient with peripartum cardiomyopathy
Author(s) -
Jong Jonas S.S.G.,
Rietveld Kirsten,
Lochem Laura T.,
Bouma Berto J.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
european journal of heart failure
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.149
H-Index - 133
eISSN - 1879-0844
pISSN - 1388-9842
DOI - 10.1093/eurjhf/hfn034
Subject(s) - medicine , cabergoline , peripartum cardiomyopathy , heart failure , cardiomyopathy , cardiology , prolactin , hormone
The aetiology of peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is still largely unknown. Recent evidence suggests that the breakdown products from prolactin can induce cardiomyopathy. Prolactin secretion can be reduced with bromocriptine which had beneficial effects in a small study. We present a case of a patient with PPCM who received cabergoline, a strong and long lasting antagonist of prolactin secretion. Following treatment, her prolactin levels dropped swiftly. N‐terminal pro‐BNP levels, which had remained high up to that point, dropped within 1 day (7006 to 4408 pg/mL). Echocardiographic left ventricular ejection fraction recovered from 26% on Day 4 postpartum to 32% and later 47% on Days 2 and 5 after cabergoline treatment. To our knowledge, this is the first description of a case of PPCM in which cabergoline was administered.