[Tuberculous pericarditis as the initial manifestation of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome]

The most common externalization of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is opportunist infection, and tuberculosis is one of the most frequent agents. The tuberculous pericarditis has been associated with AIDS, but it exceptionally occurs as the first event in the syndrome. We reported four cases in which tuberculous pericarditis was the initial manifestation of AIDS, characterizing by its clinical picture, diagnostic methods, therapeutics and the evolution of this involvement.