Srikanth Nathani1, Vinay Kumar Sajja2, Kiran Kumar Reddy3
BACKGROUND
Recently, the role of vitamin-D on structure and function of cardiomyocytes and
associated diseases has been explored very well. The association of vitamin-D in
peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) patients is not studied anywhere yet. So, the
present study was designed to assess vitamin-D levels in PPCM patients and
evaluate its association with clinical severity, echocardiographic parameters, and
clinical outcomes.
METHODS
An observational, case-control, hospital-based study conducted at a tertiary care
center in India. The study included 30 patients who were diagnosed with PPCM in
one group and 60 healthy women who were in the peripartum period in the control
group. All the patients underwent physical examinations, blood analysis, and
M-mode echocardiographic assessment. An electrochemiluminescence immune
assay technique was used to measure the level of vitamin-D.
RESULTS
The mean age of patients in PPCM group was 24.60 ± 3.52 years and in control
group was 22.97 ± 2.39 years. The mean vitamin-D levels were 13.61 ± 4.59
ng/ml and 18.87 ± 4.10 ng/ml in PPCM and control groups, respectively (P <
0.0001). Left ventricular ejection fraction was 39.73 ± 4.73 % in PPCM group and
was 64.47 ± 3.36 % in control group (P < 0.0001). A positive correlation was
observed between vitamin-D level and left ventricular ejection fraction. However,
an inverse correlation was observed between left ventricular dimensions and
vitamin-D level.
CONCLUSIONS
Patients with PPCM had lower vitamin-D levels than control group and its
deficiency had a significant correlation with cardiac function and clinical severity.
However, long-term studies are warranted to know the exact role of vitamin-D in
relation of PPCM.
