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Published on: September 9, 2020
A clinical case of tuberculosis with transient constrictive pericarditis and perimyocarditis
V D Mathiasen1,2, C A Frederiksen3, C Wejse1,4
1Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
Insights
Tuberculous pericarditis is a rare heart condition. Monitoring myocardial function with global longitudinal strain can help assess improvement in patients with tuberculosis and cardiac involvement.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Tuberculous pericarditis is uncommon, especially in developed nations, posing diagnostic challenges.
- Patients with tuberculosis (TB) involving the heart face a high risk of developing constrictive pericarditis.
Observation:
- A 60-year-old male presented with transient constrictive pericarditis and subclinical myocardial involvement due to tuberculous pericarditis.
- The patient showed improvement following the commencement of anti-tuberculous treatment.
Findings:
- Global longitudinal strain (GLS) via myocardial speckle tracking analysis offers a novel method for assessing cardiac involvement.
- GLS may serve as a valuable supplement to traditional left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) measurements.
Implications:
- This case highlights the utility of advanced imaging techniques in managing tuberculous pericarditis.
- Monitoring GLS can aid in evaluating treatment efficacy and patient recovery in at-risk populations.
Abstract:
Tuberculous pericarditis is a rare diagnosis seen among as few as 1% of tuberculosis (TB) patients in developed countries. We present a case of a 60-year-old male suffering from a transient constrictive pericarditis and subclinical involvement of the myocardium in a clinical case of tuberculous pericarditis with corresponding improvement after the initiation of anti-tuberculous treatment. We suggest monitoring of myocardial function using global longitudinal strain by myocardial speckle tracking strain analysis as supplement to routine left ventricular ejection fraction to assess clinical improvement in patients at risk of developing constrictive pericarditis.
Learning Points:
Tuberculous pericarditis is rare and a diagnostic challenge in low-incidence countries.Patients with tuberculosis and involvement of the heart are at high risk of developing constrictive pericarditis.Novel imaging techniques, such as estimation of global longitudinal strain using myocardial speckle tracking analysis, may be useful in assessing cardiac involvement in tuberculosis patients.
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Causative Organism
The primary infectious agent causing tuberculosis is Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a slow-growing, acid-fast, aerobic rod that exhibits sensitivity to heat and ultraviolet light. Instances of Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium avium contributing to the development of TB infection are rare.
Mode of...
Pulmonary Tuberculosis II
Here is a detailed explanation of its pathophysiology:
Transmission: The process begins when a person inhales droplet nuclei containing M. tuberculosis. These are typically released into the air when an individual with pulmonary or...

