Tuberculous pericarditis in north-east Turkey. An echocardiographic study

Twenty patients with tuberculous pericarditis who were referred to the Blacksea Technical University Medical School Cardiology Department from January 1979 to January 1992 were followed for 12-18 months by repeated echocardiography, before and after antituberculous therapy. Initial echocardiograms revealed moderate pericardial effusion in 7 patients (35%), and large effusion in 13 (65%). Thickened pericardium was noted in 2. After medical treatment, at the follow-up period, echocardiography revealed small effusion in only 2, the remaining had no effusion. Despite adequate antituberculous therapy, 6 patients developed pericardial thickening, 3 required pericardiectomy for constriction.