Some of these markers of general HF were found to be independently associated with PPCM. studies that compared biomarkers levels in PPCM cases to healthy controls. Pooled standardised mean difference EHT 1864 (SMD) was generated using a random effects model for the difference in levels of biomarkers. Results Two studies assessed the association of PRL with PPCM, and reported that PPCM cases have higher levels of total PRL. No studies investigated iron metabolism in PPCM. Other biomarkers associated with PPCM included serum levels of natriuretic peptides (SMD=3.77, 95% CI 0.71 to 6.82), albumin (SMD=-0.67, 95% CI -1.01 to -0.32), C-reactive protein (SMD=1.67, 95% CI 0.22 to 3.12), selenium (SMD=-0.73, 95% CI -1.58 to 0.12), cardiac troponins (SMD=1.06, 95% CI 0.33 to 1 1.80), creatinine (SMD=0.51, 95% CI 0.33 to 0.69), white bloodcells (SMD=0.44, 95 % CI 0.07 to 0.82), haemoglobin (SMD=-0.45, EHT 1864 95% CI -0.64 to-0.26). Conclusions More robust molecular studies are needed to explore the association between prolactin and PPCM in human subjects and to determine the extent to which iron deficiency (with or without anaemia) contributes to the risk of PPCM. (1991)26BeninCase control14 (7) (7)AgeAlbumin; aldosterone; ANP; PRA; sodium (urine)Postpartum cases and controlsAzibani (2020)27South Africa, GermanyCase control247 (151) (96)ParityGalectin-3; OPN, PINP; PIIINP; sST2Peripartum controlsCnac (1990)28NigeriaCase control79 (39) (40)NoneCirculating immune complexes; heart muscle autoantibody; IgA; IgG; IgMPostpartum controlsCnac (1992)29NigerCase control*71 (35) (36)NoneSeleniumBreastfeeding postpartum controlsCnac (1996)30NigerCase control*75 (35) (40)Social class, ageAlbumin; copper; pre-albumin; retinol binding protein; selenium; zincBreastfeeding postpartum controlsCnac (2000)31NigerCase control75 (50) (25)NoneChlamydia (IgA; IgG; IgM)*Not reportedCnac (2004)32MaliCase control56 (28) (28)ParitySeleniumNot reportedCnac (2009)33NigerCase control64 (10) (46)NoneSeleniumPostpartum controlsEllis (2005)34HaitiCase control24 (12) (12)Age, parityAnti-HSP60; Anti-HSP70; CRP; endothelin-1; GM-CSF; IFN-g; IL-10; IL-1a; IL-1b; IL-4; proBNP; sCD40L; TGF-b; TNF-aPostpartum cases and controlsFett (2002)35HaitiCase control52 (18) (34)ParityBeta-carotene; selenium; vitamin A; vitamin B12; vitamin C; vitamin ENot reportedForster (2008)15South AfricaNested case control63 (43) (20)Age, pregnancyCRP; Fas/Apo-1; IFN-g; IL-1b; IL-6; MMP-2; MMP-9; NT-proBNP; oxLDL; PRL; TGF-b1; TNF-a; VEGFPostpartum controlsHaghikia (2015)36GermanyCase control120 (70) (50)ParityAAB: MHC and TnIPostpartum controlsHalkein (2013)4GermanyCase control56 (38) (18)NoneERBB4 mRNA (tissue); miRNA-146a (plasma); miRNA-146a (tissue)Postpartum controlsHilfiker-Kleiner (2007)2GermanyCase control12 (5) (7)Age, parityCathepsin-D; oxLDL; prolactin (16?kDa); prolactin (26?kDa); STAT3Lactating postpartum cases and controlsHuang (2010)18ChinaCase control182 (82) (100)Occupation, economic status, education, age difference 10 yearsADV-IgG; albumin; AMA-IgG; CBV-IgG; cTnI; hs-CRP; neutrophils; WBCPostpartum cases and controlsHuang (2012)37ChinaNested case control104 (52) (52)Occupation, economic status, education, age difference 10 yearsAlbumin; cTnI; hs-CRP; NT-proBNP; WBCPostpartum cases and controlsKaraye (2015)38NigeriaCase control89 (39) (50)NoneAlbumin; ceruloplasmin; creatinine; haemoglobin; selenium; sodium (blood)Postpartum cases and PLA2B controlsKaraye (2016)39NigeriaCase control131 (54) (77)NoneCreatinine; potassium; sodium (blood)Postpartum cases and controlsLiu (2014)40ChinaCase control73 (37) (36)NoneAAB: B1R; AAB: M2-R; NT-proBNPPostpartum cases. Pregnant controlsMcTiernan (2018)41USANested case control110 (100) (10)Postpartum daysMacrophages?; monocytes?; NK cells; T-cells?Postpartum cases and controlsMebazaa (2017)25South Africa, FranceCase control123 (83) (40)NoneCopeptin; MR-proADM; NT-proBNP; PlGF; relaxin-2; sFLT1; sST2; VEGFPostpartum cases, pregnant controls, controls within 24?hours of deliveryNonhoff (2017)42GermanyCase control112 (55) (57)Gestation stageNT-proBNP; relaxin-2Peripartum cases.(2012)43USACase control50 (21) (29)Age, paritysFLT1Postpartum cases. Nursing postpartum controlsRicke-Hoch (2019)44GermanyCase control117 (64) (53)AgeCRP; IL-1b; IL-6; EHT 1864 NT-proBNP; PAI-1; TnT; uPAPostpartum cases and controlsSagy (2017)45IsraelCase control161 006(42) (160 964)Gestational age, medical history of cardiac conditions and creatinine)Albumin; alkaline phosphatase; ALT; ANA; AST; bilirubin; calcium; CPK; creatinine; CRP; D-dimer; GGT; EHT 1864 glucose; haemoglobin; phosphorous; platelets; potassium; sodium (blood); TnT; TSH; urea; uric acid; WBCPeripartum cases and controls.Walenta (2012)46South Africa, GermanyCase control60 (24) (36)Age, parityEMP**; LMP; MMP; PMP??Pregnant controls. Postpartum controls.Wang (2018)47ChinaNested case control22 (11) (11)NoneAlbumin; ALT; BNP; CK-MB; creatinine; CRP; haemoglobin; TnI; WBCPeripartum cases and controlsXia (2016)48ChinaCase control76 (38) (38)ParityALT; AST; B7-H1 (mRNA); C3; C4; CK-MB; creatinine; fasted blood glucose; haemoglobin; IFN-g; IgA; IgG; IgM; IL-4; PD-1 (mRNA); proBNP; T-cells; TnINot reportedXia EHT 1864 (2017)49ChinaCase control76 (38) (38)ParityAlbumin; ALT; AST; creatinine; B7-H1 (mRNA); B7-H1 (protein); CK-MB; proBNP; fasted blood glucose; haemoglobinA1c; haemoglobin; hs-CRP; IFN-g; IL-4; PD-1 (mRNA); PD-1 (protein); platelets; RBC; TnI; WBCNot reportedYaqoob (2018)50IndiaCase control115 (45) (70)NoneACE polymorphism: DD; ID; IIPeripartum cases. Postpartum controls. Open in a separate window *Including: and and detected the angiogenic.