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[Pleural exudate as presentation of constrictive pericarditis]
I Padilla Navas1, M Piedecausa, F Reyes
1Seccione de Neumología, Hospital General Universitario, Elche, Alicante.
Anales De Medicina Interna (Madrid, Spain : 1984)
|October 1, 1996
Summary
Constrictive pericarditis can rarely present as exudative pleural effusion, causing diagnostic challenges. Prompt diagnosis and pericardectomy can effectively resolve this effusion.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pulmonology
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Constrictive pericarditis is a condition characterized by inflammation and thickening of the pericardium, leading to impaired diastolic filling of the heart.
- Exudative pleural effusion, fluid accumulation in the pleural space with high protein content, is an uncommon manifestation of constrictive pericarditis.
Observation:
- A 71-year-old woman presented with an exudative pleural effusion initially misdiagnosed as congestive heart failure.
- The patient's pleural effusion was refractory to standard heart failure treatment.
Findings:
- Echocardiography revealed severe constrictive pericarditis as the underlying cause of the effusion.
- Following pericardectomy, the patient's pleural effusion resolved completely, confirming the diagnosis.
Implications:
- This case highlights the importance of considering constrictive pericarditis in patients with unexplained exudative pleural effusions.
- Early diagnosis and surgical intervention (pericardectomy) offer an effective treatment for this rare presentation of constrictive pericarditis.