A case of giant cell arteritis with massive pericardial effusion

Heart Vessels. 2011 Sep;26(5):562-4. doi: 10.1007/s00380-010-0101-5. Epub 2011 Feb 3.

Abstract

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the medium and large blood vessels. The early symptoms of this disease are nonspecific, and pericardial effusion is a rare manifestation of GCA. Recently, we investigated a case of GCA in which massive pericardial effusion was the initial symptom, and active aortitis was observed on positron emission tomography with fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose. These observations indicated that pericardial effusion could occur in patients with GCA.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Echocardiography
  • Female
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Giant Cell Arteritis / complications*
  • Giant Cell Arteritis / diagnosis
  • Giant Cell Arteritis / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Methylprednisolone / therapeutic use
  • Multimodal Imaging
  • Pericardial Effusion / diagnosis
  • Pericardial Effusion / etiology*
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Methylprednisolone