Chronic constrictive pericarditis induced by long-term bromocriptine therapy: report of two cases
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S Champagne1, E Coste, H Peyrière
1Department of Cardiology, Arnaud de Villeneuve Hospital, Montpellier, France.
Objective:
To report two cases of chronic constrictive pericarditis that appear to be related to the intake of bromocriptine for Parkinson's disease.
Case Summary:
Two white men (aged 63 and 69 y) were treated with bromocriptine for four (40 mg/d) and two years (30 mg/d), respectively, with a cumulative dose intake of 58.4 and 21.9 g, respectively. The patients experienced dyspnea with bilateral lower-limb edema and pleural effusion, suggesting right cardiac dysfunction. Echocardiography, computed tomography, and cardiac catheterization results were compatible with a diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis, so pericardectomy was performed on both patients. The anatomic pathology examination showed a fibrous pericardium; cultures were sterile. In the first case, pleural effusion recurred seven months after the pericarditis; bromocriptine was suspected and treatment was discontinued. In the second case, just prior to the pericardectomy, an episode of mental confusion occurred and prompted the cessation of bromocriptine therapy.
Discussion:
To the best of our knowledge, only one case of constrictive pericarditis induced by bromocriptine therapy has previously been described in the literature.
Conclusions:
Our cases call attention to a possible association between bromocriptine use in patients who have Parkinson's disease and constrictive pericarditis.
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