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[Constrictive pericarditis due to asbestos exposure]
V Trosini-Désert1, A Chambellan, P Germaud
1Service de Pneumologie, Hôpital Guillaume et René Laënnec, CHU de Nantes, France.
Revue Des Maladies Respiratoires
|October 7, 2003
Summary
Constrictive pericarditis, a rare asbestos exposure complication, presents as right heart failure. Early diagnosis is crucial due to a guarded prognosis, as highlighted in two new cases.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Occupational Medicine
- Pulmonology
Background:
- Constrictive pericarditis is a rare but serious complication linked to asbestos exposure.
- Few documented cases exist in medical literature, necessitating further reporting.
Observation:
- Two cases of constrictive pericarditis are presented in individuals with a history of occupational asbestos exposure.
- Patients presented with sub-acute right heart failure, later diagnosed with pericardial thickening due to collagen fibrosis post-pericardectomy.
- Eight additional cases of asbestos-associated pericardial effusion/thickening, some with calcification and coexisting pleural lesions, were reviewed.
Findings:
- Both reported patients, despite pericardectomy, had poor outcomes with mortality occurring one and five years post-surgery.
- A guarded prognosis is indicated, with three of the eight previously reported cases resulting in death.
Implications:
- The findings underscore the importance of considering asbestos exposure in patients presenting with constrictive pericarditis.
- Prompt diagnosis and management are essential given the poor prognosis associated with this condition.
- Further research into the mechanisms and long-term outcomes of asbestos-induced pericardial disease is warranted.