A case of tuberculous pericarditis developing constrictive pericarditis

A case of constrictive pericarditis which developed after the onset of clinical manifestation of tuberculous pericarditis was reported. A 75-year-old male, complaining of anorexia, was admitted to our hospital. Adenosinedeaminase (ADA) level in pericardial effusion was found to be increased, and the culture of pericardial effusion was positive for tubercle bacilli. Diagnosed as having tuberculous pleuritis and pericarditis, he underwent chemotherapy for tuberculosis. However, massive pleural effusion developed later and pleural effusion drainage was carried out. Despite repeated drainage, pleural effusion continued to recur. Chest CT revealed apparent pericardial thickening, in addition, cardiac catheterization revealed elevation of mean right atrial pressure and marked deterioration of cardiac functions including decrease of cardiac output. These findings were compatible with constrictive pericarditis. After these investigations a diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis was established, and the patient underwent a pericardiectomy. Pathological examination of resected specimens revealed tuberculous inflammation.     

A case of tuberculous pericarditis

A case of tuberculous pericarditis successfully managed with medical treatment alone was reported. A 78-year-old male was admitted because of cough, dyspnea and fever. Chest X-P and echocardiogram revealed massive pericardial effusion. His clinical symptoms and signs suggested cardiac tamponade. Mycobacterium tuberculosis was detected from pericardial fluid. ADA activity in pericardial fluid was high. Thoracic CT scan showed tracheobronchial, pretracheal, paratracheal and superior mediastinal lymph-node swelling. The diagnosis of tuberculous pericarditis was confirmed. Anti-tuberculous therapy consisting of INH, RFP, EB in combination with prednisolone was started. One month later pericardial effusion was controlled and six months later he was in good clinical condition without surgical treatment.     

Predictors of constrictive pericarditis after tuberculous pericarditis.

OBJECTIVE--To identify features which predict the subsequent development of constrictive pericarditis from acute or subacute tuberculous (TB) pericarditis. SETTING--Tertiary referral centre, chest hospital. PATIENTS--The records of 16 consecutive patients in whom acute or subacute TB pericarditis was diagnosed between 1988 and 1990 at a chest hospital were reviewed. These records included a follow up of at least 12 months. RESULTS--During a follow up of 14.2 (12-30) months, 8 patients had constrictive pericarditis diagnosed by cardiac catheterisation or by inspection at the time of operation (group A). There was no evidence of constriction in the other eight patients (group B). There was no significant difference between the two groups in the type or duration of symptoms of TB pericarditis before admission or the volume and characteristics of pericardial fluid obtained at hospital admission. Clinical features of cardiac tamponade on admission correlated closely with the subsequent development of constrictive pericarditis requiring pericardectomy (7/8 v 2/8; P = 0.01), despite the fact that the signs of tamponade resolved completely after pericardiocentesis. CONCLUSION--The findings suggest that cardiac tamponade in the early clinical stage of TB pericarditis is the most predictive factor of subsequent constrictive pericarditis. The degree of fibrosis of pericardium when treatment starts may be the most important determinant of whether or not constriction develops.     

Recurrent pericarditis after chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia: a case report and a modern approach to chemotherapy-induced pericarditis

Chemotherapy-induced pericarditis has been reported in a limited number of case series. Furthermore, the management of acute pericarditis associated with chemotherapy is not standardized. In a few case reports, pericarditis associated with chemotherapy has been treated with pericardiocentesis or anti-inflammatory drugs such as steroid or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Recently, colchicine was introduced as an effective tool in order to manage idiopathic recurrent pericarditis. However, the effectiveness of colchicine in chemotherapy-induced pericarditis has never been reported. We report a case of recurrent pericarditis associated with chemotherapy, which was successfully treated with colchicine and ibuprofen. We maintained colchicine when the patient required repeated chemotherapy for relapsed leukemia. And the concomitant use of colchicine prevented the patient from the full development of acute pericarditis. Colchicine may be effective in the treatment and prevention not only of idiopathic recurrent pericarditis but also of acute pericarditis associated with chemotherapy as in this case.     

Cytokine production in patients with tuberculous pericarditis.

SETTING: An academic hospital in the Western Cape, South Africa. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate cytokine production (interferon-gamma [IFN-gamma], interleukin-1 [IL-1], interleukin-2 [IL-2], interleukin-6 [IL-6], interleukin-10 [IL-10], interleukin-4 [IL-4] and tumour necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-alpha]) in patients with tuberculous pericarditis. DESIGN: Subpopulation of a consecutive prospective case series. PATIENTS: Thirty patients presenting with pericardial effusions due to tuberculosis (n = 19), malignancy (n = 6) and non-tuberculous infections (n = 5), and five control subjects who had undergone open heart surgery. RESULTS: The concentration of IFN-gamma was significantly higher in tuberculous pericardial effusions than in the other diagnostic classes (P < 0.0005). The concentration of TNF-alpha was similar in both infective and tuberculous effusions, but was significantly higher than that of malignant effusions. IL-1 and IL-2 were undetectable in malignant effusions, but elevated in both infective and tuberculous pericardial effusions. The levels of IL-1 and IL-2 were furthermore significantly higher in pericardial effusions due to infective compared to tuberculous causes. The concentration of IL-6, while elevated in all diagnostic classes, was significantly higher in the malignant group. Elevated levels of IL-10 and undetectable levels of IL-4 were observed in all three diagnostic groups. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that tuberculous pericardial effusions arise due to a hypersensitivity reaction that is orchestrated by the TH-1 lymphocytes.     

结核性心包炎36例临床分析

目的通过对结核性心包炎(tuberculous pericarditis,TP)的临床特点分析提高对TP的诊断治疗水平。方法对36例TP的临床资料进行回顾性分析。结果(1)青壮年多见;(2)发热、胸痛、胸闷憋气为渗出性结核性心包炎(effusive tuberculous pericarditis,ETP)的常见临床症状;腹胀、呼吸困难为缩窄性结核性心包炎(constrictive tuberculous pericarditis CTP)常见临床症状;(3)ETP合并双侧胸腔积液多见,少数合并其他浆膜腔积液;(4)ETP心包积液以血性液占大多数,纤维素渗出多见,常规、生化、腺苷脱胺酶(adenylate deaminase,ADA)对ETP有诊断价值;(5)心动超声检查对心包积液探查敏感、可靠、易行,结合心脏CT检查对CTP有较高的诊断价值;(6)含利福平治疗方案的临床效果较为满意,手术是CTP的最有效的治疗方法。结论对于发热、胸痛、胸闷憋气青壮年患者应摄X线胸片、超声心动检查及积液常规、生化、ADA检查除外ETP;对腹胀、呼吸困难青壮年患者除进行上述检查还要结合心脏CT检查除外CTP。早期诊断并采用含RFP方案治疗,效果较好。