Follow-up of a pregnant patient with restrictive cardiomyopathy and neuromuscular disease – mission is possible – case report

The follow-up of pregnant patients with cardiomyopathies is a challenge that every cardiologist will be facing sooner or later. We present the first case of a patient with restrictive cardiomyopathy and Alpha-B-crystallinopathy (distal myopathy type), who was followed up during two pregnancies. Cardiac follow-ups were carried out by short-term clinical status monitoring, echocardiography, ECG monitoring and NT-proBNP. At the same time, foetal ultrasound scans should be performed. Follow-up requires constant communication between the cardiologist and the gynaecologist. Any decision concerning the mother or the foetus should be made by consensus between both teams. Despite good follow-up, pregnancy in such complex patients remains a high risk due to heart. Heart failure and neuromuscular symptoms can worsen during or after pregnancy.