Letter to the Editor
Pericardial effusion as primary manifestation of Takayasu arteritis

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Abstract

Takayasu arteritis (TA) is a chronic vasculitis, affecting young women in 80–90% of cases with greatest prevalence in Asians. As exsudative pericarditis is an extremely rare, but a possible manifestation of TA, we report on a young women who presented with recurrent febrile pericardial effusion as primary manifestation of TA.

Section snippets

Case report

A 32-year-old woman was admitted for diagnostic pericardiocenthesis.

Her medical history began with backpain, fatigue, malaise, fever and adynamia 6 months ago. Blood tests showed increased C-reactive protein (CRP) and normochrome and normocytic anemia. The patient was presented to an orthopaedic specialist who did not find any cause for her backpain.

Chest X-ray was taken 5 months after onset of symptoms, showing cardiomegaly. An external cardiologist documented pericardial effusion and referred

Discussion

TA is a chronic primary vasculitis of unknown etiology [1], affecting young women in 80–90% of cases with greatest prevalence in Asians. Early diagnosis of TA is extremely difficult, because all symptoms in the early phase such as fatigue, low-grade fever, malaise, arthralgia and a loss of body weight are all non-specific [2]. At this early phase, vascular changes may not be sufficiently advanced, hence the specific symptoms like cold extremities, claudication or blood pressure differences may

Acknowledgements

The authors of this manuscript have certified that they comply with the Principles of Ethical Publishing in the Journal of Cardiology [10].

References (10)

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