Postpartum dilated cardiomyopathy and antiphospholipid syndrome: A rare association revealed by a pulmonary embolism (case report)

Abstract

Antiphospholipid syndrome is a rare entity that must be systematically evoked in front of recurrent miscarriages associated with venous or arterial thrombosis, its diagnosis is based on a set of clinico-biological arguments. In rare cases, it can be associated with postpartum cardiomyopathy, which is defined by a dysfunction of the left ventricle with an LVEF<45%, which may or may not be associated with a dilation of the left ventricle. This association is rare and poorly described in the literature, which makes management difficult and uncodified. In this context we report the case of a 33-year-old patient with cardiovascular risk factors such as arterial hypertension 2 previous miscarriages and repeated phlebitis, she was admitted to the emergency room for the management of acute dyspnea related to a proximal right pulmonary embolism and in whom the transthoracic echocardiography had objectivated a dilated left ventricle and an alteration of the ejection fraction of the left ventricle, the coronary angiography came back without particularity as part of the etiological work-up, a biological work-up was carried out, which came back in favor of an antiphospholipid syndrome. This case shows diagnostic difficulties and management of this disease.

Keywords

• Pulmonary embolism
• Thoracic angioscan
• Antiphosphosholipid syndrome