Case Report: Acute Limb Ischaemia and Gangrene associated with Peripartum Cardiomyopathy.

UNLABELLED: Thromboembolic complications are frequent in patients with peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM). Peripheral artery occlusions are however rare. This case report describes a 30-year-old grand multiparous woman with PPCM complicated by acute lower limb ischaemia and gangrene. This followed left intraventricular thrombi despite maintenance of sinus rhythm. We suspect that the thrombosis is caused by the hypercoagulable state of peripartum period, ventricular dilatation and hypokinesis. The impacts of economic and sociocultural factors in the management of this rare complication of PPCM in a resource depleted nation are highlighted.

KEYWORDS: peripartum cardiomyopathy, limb ischaemia.