Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a rare, severe and potentially life-threatening disorder of largely unknown etiology and pathophysiology, with unexplained geographical differences and heterogeneous presentation. Investigators hypothesize that a network-based multidisciplinary strategy integrating clinical and molecular phenotyping of PPCM patients might anticipate diagnosis, optimize treatments, and identify novel mechanisms to achieve the unmet goal of personalized medicine.

Specific aims of this study are: a) to create a multicenter pilot registry of PPCM in different areas in Italy to assess incidence and prevalence of this rare disease, associated comorbidities and risk factors. b) to deeply characterize identified PPCM patients through clinical, imaging, genetic, biochemical, and molecular phenotyping. c) to gain novel mechanistic information on PPCM by performing deep clinical and molecular phenotyping in available biobanks samples of patients with PPCM and healthy controls.

Inclusion Criteria

• Development of HF signs or symptoms in the last month of pregnancy or within 5 months of delivery;
• Left ventricle systolic dysfunction demonstrated by classical echocardiographic criteria (LVEF< 45 %) in the last month of pregnancy or within 5 months of delivery.

Exclusion Criteria

• Presence of any identifiable cause of HF;
• Presence of recognizable heart disease before the last month of pregnancy.

Diagnosis of PPCM will be defined according to the ESC guidelines as: (i) the development of the disease in the last month of pregnancy or within 5 months of delivery; (i) absence of an identifiable cause of heart failure; (iii) absence of recognizable heart disease before the last month of pregnancy; (iv) left ventricle systolic dysfunction demonstrated by classical echocardiographic criteria (Eur Heart J 2018;34: 3165; Eur Heart J 2021; 42: 3599). Like other rare diseases, correct diagnosis of PPCM is mostly based on exclusion criteria; however, the differential diagnosis between PPCM, pre-existing chronic heart failure, and other causes of acute heart failure in the peripartum scenario remains challenging.