Table 2.
Value of cardiac imaging modalities in peripartum cardiomyopathy.
| Echo | CMR | CT | Nuclear | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Differential between PPCM and pregnancy-related physiological cardiovascular adaptations | ++ | +++ | – | – |
| Differential between PPCM and other cardiac conditions (DCM, Takotsubo, myocarditis, pregnancy-related MI) | ++ | +++ | +(**) | ++ |
| Differential between PPCM and other extracardiac conditions (PE, amniotic fluid embolism) | ++ | +++ | ++(***) | – |
| Staging and monitoring disease progression | ++ | +++ | – | – |
| Identification of intracardiac thrombosis | ++ | +++ | ++(**) | – |
| Risk stratification and prognostic evaluation | +++ | +++(*) | +/– | – |
| Surveillance in subsequent pregnancies | +++ | ++ | – | – |
| Assessment of specific disease pathways | – | ++ | – | – |
*
Preliminary findings from small case series.
**
Coronary CTA.
***
Pulmonary CTA.
CMR, cardiac magnetic resonance; CTA, computed tomography angiography; MI, myocardial infarction; PE, pulmonary embolism; PET, positron emission tomography; PPCM, peripartum cardiomyopathy; SPECT, single-photon emission computed tomography; CT, computed tomography.