[Cardiac tamponade in hypothyroidism. Probability of coexisting viral pericarditis--a case report].

Abstract

The authors describe a case of a 50-year-old woman admitted to hospital with clinical symptoms of a cardiac tamponade. Pericardiocentesis was done and 850 ml of fluid were drained during three days. Relatively slow heart rate (82/min before, and 60/min post intervention) and initial laboratory data: marked hipercholesterolemia (8.2 mmol/l) and high CK activity (1830 IU/l) were typical of hypothyroidism. Examination of hormone levels confirmed this suspicion (TSH 162 uIU/ml, fT4 0.11 microg/dl, fT3 0.4 pmol/l). USG image and antithyroid antibodies presence (anti-TPO >3000 U/ml) helped in diagnosing of autoimmune thyroiditis. During substitution therapy with L-thyroxine her clinical status improved systematically. Additionally, an increased raised serum titre of Coxackie B virus antibodies (B3-B5 >1/256) suggested coexisting viral pericarditis. Two months before hospitalization she had symptoms of viral infection. A review of current literature on the subject is presented.

• Authors: Waldemar Elikowski, Małgorzata Małek, Katarzyna Ziemnicka, Andrzej Kościański, Ryszard Kalawski
• Journal: Kardiologia polska (Kardiol Pol) Vol. 62 Issue 6 Pg. 575-8 (Jun 2005) ISSN: 0022-9032 [Print] Poland
• Vernacular Title: Tamponada serca w przebiegu niedoczynności tarczycy. Mozliwość współistnienia wirusowego zapalenia osierdzia.
• PMID: 16123857 (Publication Type: Case Reports, English Abstract, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Viral

Topics

• Antibodies, Viral (blood)
• Cardiac Tamponade (complications, diagnosis)
• Electrocardiography
• Female
• Humans
• Hypothyroidism (blood, complications)
• Middle Aged
• Pericarditis (complications, virology)