title: Endoscopic pericardial fenestration for a patient with sustained lupus pericarditis.
abstract: A 57-year-old woman was diagnosed in January 1982 with SLE based on ANA 1:640, positive LE cell preparation, proteinuria (3+), and pericarditis. In 1984, 1994, and 1997, the pericardial effusion was noted to have increased without signs of disease exacerbation or cardiac tamponade, and pericardial drainage was repeated to control the effusion. A massive pericardial effusion developed in August 1997. After tuberculosis, hypothyroidism, neoplasm, and progression of SLE were ruled out, we decided to perform pericardial fenestration. A safe and minimally invasive pericardial fenestration was successfully completed endoscopically. Pathologic study of the specimen revealed chronic pericarditis. We consider endoscopic pericardial fenestration to be useful for at risk patients with pericarditis to control the effusion and establish a differential diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, Nerima-Hikarigaoka Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Matsukawa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takei
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Satoh
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamazaki
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nishinarita
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Horie
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sawada
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yagi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shiono
mesh_terms: D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010491:Pericardial Window Techniques; D010493:Pericarditis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D011859:Radiography