Right Heart Failure in Young People in Emerging Countries Is Most Commonly Secondary to Tuberculous Constrictive Pericarditis

Constrictive pericarditis is a rare disease with a challenging diagnosis and treatment. Tuberculous pericarditis accounts to 1-2% of the cases in the United States, but is the most common cause in other countries. We report a 17-year-old male presenting with right heart failure. His initial work up that included an Electrocardiogram, chest roentgenogram and echocardiogram suspected constrictive pericarditis. Right heart catheterization and cardiac MRI confirmed the diagnosis. Total Pericardiectomy was performed. Tissue PCR showed tuberculous pericarditis and the patient was treated with anti-tuberculous drugs for 9 months. Tuberculosis is a common cause of constrictive pericarditis especially in developing countries, whereas in developed countries most cases are idiopathic. To note that the diagnosis of tuberculous pericarditis can be difficult especially in negative PPD patients However It remains a common cause of constrictive pericarditis in some parts of the world where a high index of suspicion is requested. The treatment is curative and thus an aggressive approach in diagnosis and treatment is indicated.