# (1/2) Randomized Evaluation of Bromocriptine in Myocardial Recovery Therapy for Peripartum Cardiomyopathy (REBIRTH)

> **NIH NIH UH3** · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · 2022 · $889,542

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a complication of pregnancy occurring in 1 in 2000 live
births, which remains a major cause of maternal morbidity and mortality. Inhibition of prolactin
with the dopaminergic agonist bromocriptine appears to improve outcomes in small clinical
studies of PPCM in Africa and Europe; however, no randomized trial has been performed in a
diverse multi-racial North American cohort comparing bromocriptine against standard heart
failure therapy. This multicenter trial, Randomized Evaluation of Bromocriptine In Myocardial
Recovery Therapy for Peripartum Cardiomyopathy (REBIRTH), will evaluate whether the
addition of bromocriptine to standard therapy improves outcomes for women with PPCM. This
trial will randomize 200 women with PPCM to eight weeks of bromocriptine or placebo. Left
ventricular ejection fraction will be determined by echocardiography at study entry, and
reassessed at 6 and 12 months after randomization to determine whether the addition of
bromocriptine improves left ventricular function and overall clinical outcomes.
For women presenting with PPCM, echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular dysfunction
and remodeling helps predict the probability of recovery. This proposal will evaluate whether
global longitudinal strain or left ventricular diastolic volume will predict the therapeutic
response to bromocriptine. The therapeutic impact of bromocriptine is theoretically a result of
the reduction of prolactin and prolactin fragments collectively known as vasoinhibins. This
investigation will investigate whether higher levels of these biomarkers predict greater benefit
from bromocriptine. Breastfeeding raises prolactin levels, and the impact of breastfeeding on
recovery from PPCM remains controversial. Given that bromocriptine causes cessation of
lactation, women with PPCM who want to continue breastfeeding are excluded from the
randomized trial. This proposal will follow 50 such women and investigate the levels of these
biomarkers and whether the recovery of left ventricular function differs in breastfeeding women.
REBIRTH will clarify the role of bromocriptine for the treatment of this disorder. This proposal
will also evaluate the impact of breastfeeding, and will have a significant impact on the overall
management of women with PPCM.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10449415
- **Project number:** 4UH3HL153847-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- **Principal Investigator:** DENNIS M. MCNAMARA
- **Activity code:** UH3 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $889,542
- **Award type:** 4N
- **Project period:** 2021-08-01 → 2026-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10449415

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10449415, (1/2) Randomized Evaluation of Bromocriptine in Myocardial Recovery Therapy for Peripartum Cardiomyopathy (REBIRTH) (4UH3HL153847-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-01 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10449415. Licensed CC0.

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