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Evidence summaries

Interventions for Treating Peripartum Cardiomyopathy

Bromocriptine seems promising in the treatment of peripartum cardiomyopathy, although the evidence is insufficient. Level of evidence: "D"

A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included one pilot study undertaken in South Africa and involving 20 women with peripartum cardiomyopathy, who were treated with bromocriptine for eight weeks compared with standard care. Women were diagnosed postnatally and included in the study within 24 hours of diagnosis. There was no statistically significant difference identified in maternal mortality (RR 0.25, 95% CI 0.03 to 1.86).

Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by study quality (unclear allocation concealment) and by imprecise results (few patients and wide confidence intervals).

    References

    • Carlin AJ, Alfirevic Z, Gyte GM. Interventions for treating peripartum cardiomyopathy to improve outcomes for women and babies. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2010;(9):CD008589. [PubMed]

Primary/Secondary Keywords