Sarcoidosis-induced pericarditis in a patient with portopulmonary hypertension: a case report.
Title | Sarcoidosis-induced pericarditis in a patient with portopulmonary hypertension: a case report. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2009 |
Authors | Giouleme, O., Anagnostis P., Patsiaoura K., Vasiliadis T., Grammatikos N., Kakavas N., Mpoumponaris A., Eugenidis N., & Basayannis E. |
Journal | Cases J |
Volume | 2 |
Pagination | 8640 |
Date Published | 2009 |
ISSN | 1757-1626 |
Abstract | Portopulmonary hypertension is a rare and severe complication of patients with cirrhosis. Sarcoidosis, a disease of unknown etiology, is also a cause of pulonary hypertension and right heart dysfunction. We report the case of a 51-year-old male patient, suffering from cirrhosis due to Wilson's disease, portal hypertension and pulmonary hypertension (PH), who developed severe pericarditis. Wilson's disease was diagnosed 8 years before his last admission to our hospital and was being successfully treated with D-penicillamine. PH was recognized 2 years before admission and being treated with bosentan. The patient complained for dyspnea at rest and the 2D echocardiogram revealed a significant amount of pericardial fluid. All other causes of acute pericarditis were excluded and his laboratory, imaging and histopathological investigation showed evidence of sarcoidosis. He underwent a therapy with corticosteroids (methylprednisolone) and his follow-up examination showed remarkable decrease of the levels of mean pulmonary artery pressure and pericardial fluid. |
DOI | 10.4076/1757-1626-2-8640 |
Alternate Journal | Cases J |
PubMed ID | 19918393 |
PubMed Central ID | PMC2769463 |