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American Journal of Obstetrics and... Feb 2022High blood pressure in the postpartum period is most commonly seen in women with antenatal hypertensive disorders, but it can develop de novo in the postpartum time... (Review)
Review
High blood pressure in the postpartum period is most commonly seen in women with antenatal hypertensive disorders, but it can develop de novo in the postpartum time frame. Whether postpartum preeclampsia or eclampsia represents a separate entity from preeclampsia or eclampsia with antepartum onset is unclear. Although definitions vary, the diagnosis of postpartum preeclampsia should be considered in women with new-onset hypertension 48 hours to 6 weeks after delivery. New-onset postpartum preeclampsia is an understudied disease entity with few evidence-based guidelines to guide diagnosis and management. We propose that new-onset hypertension with the presence of any severe features (including severely elevated blood pressure in women with no history of hypertension) be referred to as postpartum preeclampsia after exclusion of other etiologies to facilitate recognition and timely management. Older maternal age, black race, maternal obesity, and cesarean delivery are all associated with a higher risk of postpartum preeclampsia. Most women with delayed-onset postpartum preeclampsia present within the first 7 to 10 days after delivery, most frequently with neurologic symptoms, typically headache. The cornerstones of treatment include the use of antihypertensive agents, magnesium, and diuresis. Postpartum preeclampsia may be associated with a higher risk of maternal morbidity than preeclampsia with antepartum onset, yet it remains an understudied disease process. Future research should focus on the pathophysiology and specific risk factors. A better understanding is imperative for patient care and counseling and anticipatory guidance before hospital discharge and is important for the reduction of maternal morbidity and mortality in the postpartum period.
Topics: Anticonvulsants; Antihypertensive Agents; Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory; Diuresis; Eclampsia; Female; Humans; Magnesium Sulfate; Pre-Eclampsia; Pregnancy; Puerperal Disorders; Risk Factors
PubMed: 35177218
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2020.10.027 -
Current Psychiatry Reports Feb 2023Postpartum psychosis is a psychiatric emergency that can affect the health and life of mothers, infants, and families. Postpartum psychosis (PPP) is distinct from... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE OF REVIEW
Postpartum psychosis is a psychiatric emergency that can affect the health and life of mothers, infants, and families. Postpartum psychosis (PPP) is distinct from non-postpartum psychosis in many ways, and it is crucial to study and understand PPP to identify, treat, and possibly prevent this condition. We therefore sought to review the latest research findings about PPP with the intention of updating readers about the latest evidence base.
RECENT FINDINGS
Multiple physiologic pathways have been implicated in the development of PPP, and further understanding these pathways may allow for early detection and treatment. Risk assessment and treatment should include consideration of the woman patient but also the mother-infant dyad and the larger family. It is our hope that this review of research updates in postpartum psychosis may inform clinical practice and promote specialized, evidence-based diagnosis, risk assessment, and treatment.
Topics: Female; Infant; Humans; Psychotic Disorders; Puerperal Disorders; Mothers; Risk Assessment; Postpartum Period; Depression, Postpartum
PubMed: 36637712
DOI: 10.1007/s11920-022-01406-4 -
Journal of the American College of... Jan 2020Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a form of systolic heart failure affecting young women toward the end of pregnancy or in the months following delivery. Incidence is higher... (Review)
Review
Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a form of systolic heart failure affecting young women toward the end of pregnancy or in the months following delivery. Incidence is higher in African-American women and in women with older maternal age, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, and multiple gestation pregnancies. Symptoms of heart failure mimic those of normal pregnancy, often resulting in a delay in diagnosis and preventable complications. Echocardiography showing decreased myocardial function is essential for the diagnosis. Medical management is similar to heart failure with reduced ejection fraction of other etiologies, but adjustments during pregnancy are necessary to ensure fetal safety. Variable outcomes include complete recovery, persistent heart failure, arrhythmias, thromboembolic events, and death. Subsequent pregnancy confers substantial risk of relapse and even death if there is incomplete myocardial recovery. Additional research about the etiology, optimal therapy including the use of bromocriptine, long-term outcomes, and duration of treatment after recovery are needed.
Topics: Cardiomyopathies; Cardiovascular Agents; Female; Humans; Peripartum Period; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular; Puerperal Disorders; Review Literature as Topic
PubMed: 31948651
DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2019.11.014 -
Heart (British Cardiac Society) Oct 2019Cardiomyopathy is a group of disorders in which the heart muscle is structurally and functionally abnormal in the absence of other diseases that could cause observed... (Review)
Review
Cardiomyopathy is a group of disorders in which the heart muscle is structurally and functionally abnormal in the absence of other diseases that could cause observed myocardial abnormality. The most common cardiomyopathies are hypertrophic and dilated cardiomyopathy. Rare types are arrhythmogenic right ventricular, restrictive, Takotsubo and left ventricular non-compaction cardiomyopathies. This review of cardiomyopathies in pregnancy shows that peripartum cardiomyopathy is the most common cardiomyopathy in pregnancy. Peripartum cardiomyopathy develops most frequently in the month before or after partum, whereas dilated cardiomyopathy often is known already or develops in the second trimester. Mortality in peripartum cardiomyopathy varies from <2% to 50%. Few reports on dilated cardiomyopathy and pregnancy exist, with only a limited number of patients. Ventricular arrhythmias, heart failure, stroke and death are found in 39%-60% of high-risk patients. However, patients with modest left ventricular dysfunction and good functional class tolerated pregnancy well. Previous studies on >700 pregnancies in 500 women with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy showed that prognosis was generally good, even though three deaths were reported in high-risk patients. Complications include different types of supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias, heart failure and ischaemic stroke. Recent studies on 200 pregnancies in 100 women with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy have reported symptoms, including heart failure in 18%-33% of pregnancies. Ventricular tachycardia was found in 0%-33% of patients and syncope in one patient. Information on rare cardiomyopathies is sparse and only presented in case reports. Close monitoring by multidisciplinary teams in referral centres that counsel patients before conception and follow them throughout gestation is recommended.
Topics: Cardiomyopathies; Female; Humans; Patient Care Management; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular; Prognosis; Puerperal Disorders
PubMed: 31308064
DOI: 10.1136/heartjnl-2018-313476 -
Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology Sep 2018The perinatal period is a vulnerable time for the acute onset and recurrence of psychiatric illness. Primary care providers are opportunely positioned to intervene for... (Review)
Review
The perinatal period is a vulnerable time for the acute onset and recurrence of psychiatric illness. Primary care providers are opportunely positioned to intervene for women who present with mood decompensation, excessive anxiety, or psychosis during the perinatal period. Owing to increased screening efforts in obstetrical clinics and amount of contact during the perinatal period, obstetricians may be able to identify patients who need treatment before their symptoms become severe. In this article, we address imminent and emergent psychiatric symptoms in the perinatal period including management and risk reduction to help obstetrician/gynecologists treat and/or refer patients as clinically appropriate.
Topics: Aggression; Depression, Postpartum; Emergencies; Female; Humans; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Psychomotor Agitation; Psychotic Disorders; Puerperal Disorders; Risk Factors; Suicidal Ideation
PubMed: 29794819
DOI: 10.1097/GRF.0000000000000377 -
Heart Failure Reviews Nov 2021Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a form of idiopathic systolic heart failure which occurs during the end of pregnancy or the early post-partum in the absence of an... (Review)
Review
Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a form of idiopathic systolic heart failure which occurs during the end of pregnancy or the early post-partum in the absence of an identifiable etiology. The exact pathogenesis remains unknown, and the incidence is higher in African ancestry, multiparous and hypertensive women, or older maternal age. Delay in diagnosis is common, mainly because symptoms of heart failure mimic those of normal pregnancy. Echocardiography showing decreased myocardial function is at the center of the diagnosis. Management relies on the general guidelines of management of other forms of non-ischemic cardiomyopathy; however, special attention should be paid when choosing medications to ensure fetal safety. Outcomes can be variable and can range from complete recovery to persistent heart failure requiring transplant or even death. High rates of relapse with subsequent pregnancies can occur, especially with incomplete myocardial recovery. Additional research about the etiology, experimental drugs, prognosis, and duration of treatment after recovery are needed.
Topics: Cardiomyopathies; Echocardiography; Female; Humans; Peripartum Period; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular; Prognosis; Puerperal Disorders
PubMed: 34138401
DOI: 10.1007/s10741-020-10061-x -
Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics of... Sep 2018Postpartum psychosis is a psychiatric emergency that affects 1 to 2 per 1000 women. Key clinical features include mood fluctuation, abnormal thoughts or behaviors, and... (Review)
Review
Postpartum psychosis is a psychiatric emergency that affects 1 to 2 per 1000 women. Key clinical features include mood fluctuation, abnormal thoughts or behaviors, and confusion. Women with a history of bipolar disorder are at heightened risk, as are first-time mothers; current research on the causes focuses on biological triggers, such as immune dysregulation. Women with postpartum psychosis require inpatient hospitalization and should be treated with lithium, antipsychotics, and benzodiazepines.
Topics: Bipolar Disorder; Checklist; Early Diagnosis; Emergency Services, Psychiatric; Female; Humans; Medical History Taking; Mothers; Obstetrics; Postpartum Period; Psychotic Disorders; Puerperal Disorders; Risk Factors
PubMed: 30092921
DOI: 10.1016/j.ogc.2018.04.005 -
The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry Jul 2019To estimate the prevalence of anxiety disorders in pregnant and postpartum women and identify predictors accounting for variability across estimates. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the prevalence of anxiety disorders in pregnant and postpartum women and identify predictors accounting for variability across estimates.
DATA SOURCES
An electronic search of PsycINFO and PubMed was conducted from inception until July 2016, without date or language restrictions, and supplemented by articles referenced in the obtained sources. A Boolean search phrase utilized a combination of keywords related to pregnancy, postpartum, prevalence, and specific anxiety disorders.
STUDY SELECTION
Articles reporting the prevalence of 1 or more of 8 common anxiety disorders in pregnant or postpartum women were included. A total of 2,613 records were retrieved, with 26 studies ultimately included.
DATA EXTRACTION
Anxiety disorder prevalence and potential predictor variables (eg, parity) were extracted from each study. A Bayesian multivariate modeling approach estimated the prevalence and between-study heterogeneity of each disorder and the prevalence of having 1 or more anxiety disorder.
RESULTS
Individual disorder prevalence estimates ranged from 1.1% for posttraumatic stress disorder to 4.8% for specific phobia, with the prevalence of having at least 1 or more anxiety disorder estimated to be 20.7% (95% highest density interval [16.7% to 25.4%]). Substantial between-study heterogeneity was observed, suggesting that "true" prevalence varies broadly across samples. There was evidence of a small (3.1%) tendency for pregnant women to be more susceptible to anxiety disorders than postpartum women.
CONCLUSIONS
Peripartum anxiety disorders are more prevalent than previously thought, with 1 in 5 women in a typical sample meeting diagnostic criteria for at least 1 disorder. These findings highlight the need for anxiety screening, education, and referral in obstetrics and gynecology settings.
Topics: Anxiety Disorders; Bayes Theorem; Female; Humans; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Prevalence; Puerperal Disorders
PubMed: 31347796
DOI: 10.4088/JCP.18r12527 -
Current Hypertension Reports Nov 2019To review the postpartum management of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. (Review)
Review
PURPOSE OF REVIEW
To review the postpartum management of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.
RECENT FINDINGS
Hypertensive disorders are associated with an increased risk of future cardiovascular disease; however, there is a poor understanding of the underlying mechanisms and few recommendations to guide care in the postpartum period. Recent studies have shown high rates of masked hypertension and home blood pressure monitoring in the first year postpartum may be a promising opportunity to monitor health given evidence of high maternal adherence to this approach. In longer term, women with a history of a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy have higher blood pressures, increased risk of metabolic syndrome, and perhaps excess diastolic dysfunction. Triaging risk and improving handoff from the obstetrician to the primary care provider or subspecialist should be a priority in this population. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy remain an untapped opportunity to identify excess cardiovascular risk in affected women at a time when mitigating that risk during the reproductive years has the potential to improve future pregnancy health as well as improve women's long-term cardiometabolic health.
Topics: Antihypertensive Agents; Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory; Cardiovascular Diseases; Female; Forecasting; Humans; Hypertension; Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced; Maternal Health; Metabolic Diseases; Postpartum Period; Pre-Eclampsia; Pregnancy; Puerperal Disorders; Reproductive Health
PubMed: 31776692
DOI: 10.1007/s11906-019-0999-7 -
Ugeskrift For Laeger Jun 2021Post-partum psychosis (PPP) is a severe psychiatric emergency. The condition is rare and has generally not been an area of overwhelming research, and concordantly, early... (Review)
Review
Post-partum psychosis (PPP) is a severe psychiatric emergency. The condition is rare and has generally not been an area of overwhelming research, and concordantly, early identification and treatment is a challenge. Research in the field suggests, that PPP often is a bipolar spectrum illness, and resent research has identified the most common symptoms. This review is an updated description of the phenotypical characteristics of the illness and treatment recommendations based on the newest research.
Topics: Bipolar Disorder; Female; Humans; Postpartum Period; Psychotic Disorders; Puerperal Disorders; Risk Assessment
PubMed: 34120688
DOI: No ID Found