Constrictive tuberculous pericarditis: case report and review of the literature

Constrictive pericarditis is a rare disease characterized by the encasement of the heart by a rigid, non-pliable pericardium, with impaired diastolic filling of the ventricles. Its etiology is often unclear (42%), but is frequently associated with viral infection and tuberculosis, especially in developing countries. In this article the authors present the case report of a 28 year-old black woman, born and resident in Angola, with a history of tuberculosis, admitted to our hospital with global heart failure. After investigation a diagnosis of constrictive tuberculous pericarditis was established and the patient underwent pericardiectomy. Clinical features and radiologic, electrocardiographic, echocardiographic, computed tomography, nuclear magnetic resonance imaging and hemodynamic findings are discussed. This case illustrates the importance of early pericardiotomy before the appearance of pericardiectomy before end-stage pericardial fibrosis and subsequent increased possibility of an adverse postoperative outcome.