Cardiology: peripartum cardiomyopathy: practice question

A General Medicine question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

Try it

General Medicine · Cardiology: peripartum cardiomyopathy

Sample item

A 30-year-old woman has orthopnoea and an ejection fraction of 30 percent six weeks after delivery, with no previous heart disease. What is the key counselling point about future pregnancies?

AThere is a high risk of relapse, especially if ventricular function has not recoveredBThe condition never recursCPregnancy is safe once symptoms resolve, whatever the ejection fractionDHeart transplantation is required before any pregnancy

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. There is a high risk of relapse, especially if ventricular function has not recovered

Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a dilated cardiomyopathy developing in late pregnancy or the months after delivery, and many women recover. A subsequent pregnancy carries a significant risk of relapse and death, highest when the ejection fraction remains reduced. Guideline heart failure therapy is given, with ACE inhibitors avoided during pregnancy itself.

Option by option

A. There is a high risk of relapse, especially if ventricular function has not recovered (correct)
Correct. Persistent dysfunction makes a later pregnancy highly risky.
B. The condition never recurs
Recurrence can occur in later pregnancies.
C. Pregnancy is safe once symptoms resolve, whatever the ejection fraction
Symptom resolution does not guarantee safety if ventricular function remains impaired.
D. Heart transplantation is required before any pregnancy
Transplant is not routinely required before pregnancy; the decision depends on recovery.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

Questions about this General Medicine question

What is the answer to this General Medicine question?

The best answer is A, There is a high risk of relapse, especially if ventricular function has not recovered. Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a dilated cardiomyopathy developing in late pregnancy or the months after delivery, and many women recover.

Why is "The condition never recurs" not the answer?

Recurrence can occur in later pregnancies.

Why is "Pregnancy is safe once symptoms resolve, whatever the ejection fracti…" not the answer?

Symptom resolution does not guarantee safety if ventricular function remains impaired.

Why is "Heart transplantation is required before any pregnancy" not the answer?

Transplant is not routinely required before pregnancy; the decision depends on recovery.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Cardiology: peripartum cardiomyopathy in General Medicine. A subsequent pregnancy carries a significant risk of relapse and death, highest when the ejection fraction remains reduced. Guideline heart failure therapy is given, with ACE inhibitors avoided during pregnancy itself.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Cardiology: peripartum cardiomyopathy?

For each disease know the classic presentation, the best test, and the first-line treatment. Then use the flashcards and the other General Medicine questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.