Peripartum cardiomyopathy: post-transplant outcomes from the United Network for Organ Sharing Database.

Background Nearly 25% of patients with peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) will require cardiac transplantation. Whether post-transplant outcomes differ among patients with PPCM compared with other recipients remains unsettled. Methods The United Network for Organ Sharing database was queried for cardiac transplants, comparing characteristics and outcomes for PPCM, other women, and all others. Results Between 1987 and 2010, 42,406 patients (9,419 women and 32,987 men) received a heart transplant. Of these, 485 women who had PPCM as the indication were younger ( p p p = 0.026), and had higher listing status ( p p p = 0.003). Comparing PPCM with other women and all others, graft survival was inferior ( p = 0.004 and p p p = 0.02, respectively). Conclusions This large report shows outcomes of graft failure and death are inferior for recipients with PPCM, which may be partly explained by younger age, higher allosensitization, higher pre-transplant acuity, and increased rejection. More research is needed to determine management strategies to improve outcomes in PPCM heart transplant recipients.