What is the most likely diagnosis for a 22-year-old woman with shortness of breath and peripheral edema following delivery?

The diagnosis of cardiomyopathy in this scenario is supported by the timing and clinical presentation following delivery. Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a specific form of cardiomyopathy that occurs in women towards the end of pregnancy or in the months following delivery. It is characterized by heart failure symptoms, which can include shortness of breath and peripheral edema, just as seen in this patient.

This condition is often thought to have a multifactorial etiology, including hormonal changes, increased volume load, or potential inflammatory responses related to pregnancy. The proximity to delivery strongly suggests that the symptoms of shortness of breath and peripheral edema are due to compromised cardiac function resulting from this type of cardiomyopathy.

While other conditions like amniotic fluid embolism and pulmonary embolism could present with acute shortness of breath, they typically manifest differently or occur shortly after delivery rather than progressively in the weeks following delivery. Pneumonia could also cause shortness of breath but would more likely present with fever, cough, and other respiratory symptoms, distinguishing it from the clinical picture of worsening heart function seen in cardiomyopathy.

In summary, the patient’s symptoms, alongside the timing after delivery, are most consistent with peripartum cardiomyopathy, making this the