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Published on: February 4, 2021
Chronic calcific constrictive pericarditis complicating Churg-Strauss syndrome: first reported case
Falah Aboukhoudir1, Michel Pansieri1, Sofiene Rekik1
1Department of Cardiology, Avignon Hospital Center, Avignon, France.
Insights
Churg-Strauss syndrome, a vasculitis, can lead to constrictive calcified pericarditis, a rare cardiac complication. This case highlights its development over 10 years despite corticosteroid treatment.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Rheumatology
- Pathology
Background:
- Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS) is a systemic necrotizing vasculitis.
- CSS involves eosinophilic infiltrates and granulomas in small vessels.
- Cardiac complications are known in CSS, but pericarditis is rarely reported.
Observation:
- A 46-year-old man with CSS developed symptomatic calcific constrictive pericarditis.
- The pericarditis developed over a 10-year period.
- The patient received long-term corticosteroid therapy.
Findings:
- This is the first reported case of constrictive calcified pericarditis in Churg-Strauss syndrome.
- The condition progressed despite immunosuppressive therapy.
Implications:
- Highlights a rare but serious cardiac manifestation of CSS.
- Suggests the need for vigilant cardiac monitoring in CSS patients.
- May inform long-term management strategies for CSS with cardiac involvement.
Abstract:
Churg-Strauss syndrome is a necrotizing systemic vasculitis characterized by extravascular granulomas and eosinophilic infiltrates of small vessels. Although cardiac complications are considered to be relatively common, no case of constrictive calcified pericarditis has ever been previously described in this setting. In this report, we present the case of a 46-year-old man with Churg-Strauss syndrome, in whom we were able to document the development of symptomatic calcific constrictive pericarditis during a 10-year period despite long-term corticosteroid therapy.
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