Pleural and pericardial effusion in a long-term PD patient - a defying diagnosis


Peritoneopleural shunt is an uncommon complication of peritoneal dialysis (PD) usually presenting early as a right pleural transudate. Peritoneopericardial shunt is an even rarer entity in PD, almost never occurring spontaneously. We present the case of a 37-year-old woman on PD for 24 months exhibiting a left pleural and pericardial effusion following pneumonia. Pleural fluid was initially compatible with an exudate with a high glucose concentration and later with a transudate. In order to clarify the suspicion of an ongoing shunt an abdominal scintigraphy was performed confirming the diagnosis of a peritoneopleuropericardial communication. This case underlines the importance of considering this unusual diagnosis in a patient on long-term PD. Its timely diagnosis is important to stop PD and start hemodialysis.
.