Which complication is associated with untreated peripartum cardiomyopathy?

Untreated peripartum cardiomyopathy can lead to the formation of a left ventricular thrombus primarily due to the impaired left ventricular function and dilation associated with the condition. In peripartum cardiomyopathy, the heart's ability to pump effectively is compromised, which can result in stasis of blood flow within the heart chambers, particularly the left ventricle. This stagnant blood flow creates an environment conducive to thrombus formation, culminating in potential serious complications such as embolization, stroke, or worsening heart failure.

Other options, while they may have implications in different clinical settings, are not direct complications arising specifically from untreated peripartum cardiomyopathy. Anemia is a common condition in the peripartum period but does not directly result from peripartum cardiomyopathy itself. Appendicitis is an unrelated acute surgical condition that does not have a link to peripartum cardiomyopathy. Similarly, myocardial contraction refers to the heart's ability to contract, which is fundamentally compromised in cardiomyopathy, but is not a complication; rather, it is a symptom of the underlying issue.

Hence, the risk of left ventricular thrombus formation is a significant and clinically relevant complication that can arise in patients with untreated