American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Certification Practice Exam

Peripartum cardiomyopathy is characterized by what condition?

1. Right ventricular hypertrophy

2. Left ventricular systolic dysfunction

3. Persistent tachycardia

4. Diastolic dysfunction

The correct answer is: Left ventricular systolic dysfunction

Peripartum cardiomyopathy is defined by the occurrence of heart failure that develops towards the end of pregnancy or in the months following delivery. This condition is primarily characterized by left ventricular systolic dysfunction, which refers to the impaired ability of the left ventricle to contract effectively. In peripartum cardiomyopathy, the heart muscle becomes weakened and fails to pump blood adequately, leading to symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, and fluid retention. The diagnosis is often made based on echocardiographic findings indicating a reduction in the left ventricular ejection fraction. The other options, while they might present issues related to cardiovascular health, do not specifically encapsulate the hallmark of peripartum cardiomyopathy. Right ventricular hypertrophy is generally more associated with other types of cardiac stressors, persistent tachycardia can occur in various cardiac conditions but is not a defining feature of this condition, and while diastolic dysfunction can occur in heart failure, it is the systolic dysfunction that is the primary concern in this particular cardiomyopathy. Thus, the defining characteristic of peripartum cardiomyopathy is indeed left ventricular systolic dysfunction.