Key result
Constrictive pericarditis can be a rare initial presentation of systemic lupus erythematosus, which in this case was successfully treated with pericardiectomy and immunosuppression.
Why the study?
Constrictive pericarditis is a very rare feature of systemic lupus erythematosus, which often presents non-specifically and mimics conditions such as tuberculosis.
Case Report (n=1)
No
Constrictive pericarditis can be a rare initial presentation of SLE, and pericardiectomy may be required for definitive treatment when medical therapy is insufficient.
SLE evaluation warranted in unexplained constrictive pericarditis; leaves open optimal timing of pericardiectomy plus immunosuppression.
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by multi-organ damage mediated by immune complexes and autoantibodies. It often presents with patients being non-specifically unwell and there is a wide range of differential diagnoses, one of which includes chronic infections such as Tuberculosis (TB). Exudative pericarditis is a relatively common feature in SLE and is present in up to 62% of patients on autopsy, although only a quarter of patients are symptomatic; constrictive pericarditis is a very rare feature of SLE. We report a 49 year old gentleman who was diagnosed with SLE which presented with features of constrictive pericarditis following an extensive period of investigations for TB.
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Jethwa et al. (2019) conducted a case report in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus with Constrictive Pericarditis (n=1). Pericardiectomy and immunosuppression was evaluated on Resolution of right-sided heart failure and shortness of breath. Constrictive pericarditis can be a rare initial presentation of systemic lupus erythematosus, which in this case was successfully treated with pericardiectomy and immunosuppression.
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