Protocolo diagnóstico de la miocardiopatía en el embarazo

When faced with the onset of dyspnoea or other symptoms of suspected heart failure in a pregnant woman, a rapid diagnostic protocol should be conducted that includes the following: a) ruling out or confirmation of heart failure (medical history, physical examination, electrocardiogram and natriuretic peptides); b) diagnosis of the cause for the heart failure (imaging techniques such as Doppler echocardiogram); c) diagnosis of dilated peripartum cardiomyopathy, using imaging techniques (Doppler echocardiogram, cardiac MRI without gadolinium in selected cases) and other techniques for ruling out other aetiologies in specific cases (e.g., endomyocardial biopsy when faced with suspected acute myocarditis).