[Pericardial tamponade and systemic sclerosis]

We report a case with systemic sclerosis (scleroderma) presented with an acute pericarditis and pericardial tamponade with haemodynamic impairment that required pericardial drain. The frequency of pericardial disease in scleroderma is high, but the clinical recognition is rare, and tamponade with haemodynamic impairment requiring aspiration for relief is exceptional, but should be considered in patients with scleroderma that present an acute pericarditis. It is suggested that pericardial fibrosis in scleroderma may predispose to pericardial tamponade.