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Published on: June 8, 2022
Pericardial effusion requiring pericardiocentesis in a girl with anorexia nervosa
Nicoletta Polli1, Simonetta Blengino, Mirella Moro
1Division of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, University of Milan, Ospedale San Luca IRCCS, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy.
Objective:
Silent pericardial effusion is frequently observed in patients with anorexia nervosa. The nature of the pericardial fluid could never be established, as pericardiocentesis was ethically unfeasible.
Method:
We describe the case of a girl with anorexia nervosa in whom an initial, clinically irrelevant pericardial effusion increased rapidly, making pericardiocentesis necessary to prevent cardiac tamponade.
Results:
It was thus possible to exclude the inflammatory or infectious nature of the pericardial fluid, although the pathogenesis of this cardiac alteration remains obscure.
Conclusion:
Echocardiographic examination appears to be strongly advisable in patients with anorexia nervosa.
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