Neonatal acquired cardiomyopathy – case report

Cardiomyopathies are primary myocardial disorders that cause systolic and/or diastolic cardiac dysfunction. They are relatively rare in the foetus and neonatal period and carrying a significantly worse prognosis and high mortality. Neonatal cardiomyopathies exhibit considerable aetiological heterogeneity, with various genetic and acquired causes. Acquired cardiomyopathies are typically associated with placental injury or infectious, immune-mediated myocardial damage. Diagnostic evaluation is complicated by the variable clinical presentation. We describe an acquired form of neonatal hypertrophic cardiomyopathy associated with polycythemia identified as a consequence of maternal chronic placental insufficiency.