Background: Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a life-threatening heart muscle disease of unknown aetiology that affects women during the peripartum period, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. While many studies have observed normal blood pressure (BP) in PPCM patients, none have explored whether their BP is appropriate for their body size. This study investigated the correlation between body anthropometric parameters and BP in PPCM patients, comparing the findings with those of age-matched normal peripartum controls. Methods: A cohort of 105 women, each from PPCM and matched normal peripartum control groups, were recruited from three healthcare facilities in Sokoto. Blood pressure (BP) parameters were assessed in relation to their anthropometric measurements, and the findings were compared between the two groups. Results: The PPCM patients were significantly smaller in body weight (57.0 ±11.6 Kg vs 66.8 ±13.8 Kg, P <.0001), body mass index (BMI) (21.9 ±4.1 Kg/m2 vs 25.4 ±5.4 Kg/m2, P <.0001, body surface area (BSA) (1.3 ±0.7 m2 vs 1.7 ±0.2 m2, P <.0001), Lean body mass (LBM) (45.3 ±7.0 Kg vs 49.4 ±4.1 Kg, P <.0001) and Percentage body fat (BF) (23.5 ±10.9 % vs 31.2 ±6.9 %, P <.0001). Similarly, PPCM patients had significantly higher systolic BP (SBP), Pulse pressure (PP) and Mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) compared to the normal peripartum PPCM control. Further, linear regression analysis showed that there was higher slope of the relationship between anthropometric indices and SBP and PP in the PPCM cohort, compared to the normal peripartum control group. A similar trend of the slope was seen in the Pearson’s coefficient of the relationship of the anthropometries and BP parameters. Conclusions: This study found that women with peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) exhibited disproportionately higher systolic blood pressure (SBP) and pulse pressure (PP) for each unit increase in anthropometric measurements compared to normal peripartum controls. Notably, PPCM patients had significantly lower anthropometric measures, potentially attributable to poverty and chronic undernutrition. Additionally, the effects of poor antenatal care, lack of immunization and recurrent infection should be considered. These findings suggest an abnormal relationship between anthropometry and blood pressure in PPCM patients, which may have detrimental effects on their cardiovascular health. This abnormal relationship may contribute to the development of heart failure (HF) in PPCM patients and potentially increase the risk in women susceptible to PPCM. Even-though our assumption, yet to be proven. To address this concerning trend in vulnerable populations, improvements in nutritional status, socioeconomic determinants health, adequate antenatal care (ANC), immunization, and infection prevention should be considered.

Anaphylaxis can be associated with hemodynamic shock, which requires the early initiation of adrenaline as part of its management. Cardiogenic pulmonary edema is a frequent entity in emergency services with increased mortality in patients with acute coronary syndrome. The case report presents the case of a 55-year-old male patient who entered the emergency department with a non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) associated to pulmonary edema and anaphylaxis. During his stay in the emergency room, he had an anaphylactic reaction to dipyrone (metamizole) used for pain control. The patient presented signs of acute pulmonary edema, a hypertensive urgency after the use of adrenaline for the management of anaphylaxis.  There was doubt as to whether the dyspnea was of anaphylactic or cardiogenic origin, so an emergency ultrasound was performed, which suggested a bilateral pattern B.  This allowed timely management of ventilatory failure with systemic nitrates, diuretics, and oxygen therapy, which controlled blood pressure and resolved ventilatory failure. Subsequently, he was transferred to an institution with a hemodynamic service for the management of NSTEMI. We highlight the utility of emergency ultrasonography for immediate decision-making and the low prevalence of anaphylactic reaction in a patient with NSTEMI leading to acute pulmonary edema.

Hypertension remains a leading cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Although effective antihypertensive therapies are available, sustained blood pressure control remains suboptimal due to inconsistent medication use. Most adherence research is quantitative and offers limited understanding of how individuals interpret lifelong treatment within daily life, particularly in culturally grounded contexts. To explore the lived experiences of Filipino adults taking antihypertensive medication. A qualitative study grounded in Heideggerian interpretive phenomenology was conducted. Ten Filipino adults diagnosed with hypertension were purposively recruited from outpatient clinics in Manila, Philippines. In-depth semi-structured interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using the six-step IPA framework. Analysis revealed six interconnected themes describing how participants interpreted and sustained medication use: (1) Diagnosis as Disruption; (2) Medication as Protection and Responsibility; (3) The Paradox of the Silent Illness; (4) Everyday Barriers to Sustained Treatment; (5) Constructing Routine and Adaptive Self-Management; and (6) Family as Anchor within Cultural Contexts. These themes reflected emotional adjustment, symptom-driven adherence, financial and work-related barriers, adaptive coping strategies, and strong family-centered motivation. Medication-taking was experienced as an ongoing negotiation shaped by bodily cues, daily demands, and relational obligations. Conclusion: Antihypertensive medication use is shaped by relational, cultural, and socioeconomic contexts, underscoring the need for family-inclusive and culturally responsive hypertension care.

Introduction: Severe pre-eclampsia is a multisystem disorder associated with various ocular complications, however postpartum bilateral serous retinal detachment is uncommon and may threaten vision if not early recognized, thus requiring prompt management in order to prevent permanent visual loss. Clinical Description: A case of a 31-year-old woman, G3P0 with an in vitro fertilization and previous miscarriages, developed severe pre-eclampsia at 34 weeks of gestation. She underwent an emergency cesarean section for maternal indication. On the second postoperative day, she develops sudden unilateral blindness and blurred vision in the contralateral eye. Ophthalmological examination showed normal optics discs while MRI revealed bilateral serous retinal detachment. She was managed conservatively with strict blood pressure control, magnesium sulphate therapy and anticoagulation with full recovery of vision over 3 weeks without need of surgical intervention. Discussion: Postpartum retinal detachment is uncommon, most often serous and reversible. This case highlights that conservative management focusing on strict blood pressure control and supportive care was sufficient to avoid surgical intervention. Timely diagnosis and coordinated multidisciplinary management ensured complete visual recovery. Conclusion: Bilateral serous retinal detachment is a rare but reversible postpartum complication of severe pre-eclampsia. With early recognition, close monitoring and conservative management can lead to complete restoration of vision.