[Ascites due to constrictive pericarditis].
BACKGROUND
We report a case in which ascites revealed chronic constrictive pericarditis (CCP) of tuberculous origin.


METHODS
A 65 year-old man had developed ascites the past over few weeks and oedema of the lower limbs. Treatment was surgical and consisted in pericardiectomy.


CONCLUSIONS
Chronic constrictive pericarditis has become rare in industrialised countries with the reduction in the incidence of tuberculosis. Currently, its principle aetiologies identified are previous cardiac surgery and radiotherapy. Treatment is usually surgical and gives excellent results. This clinical case clearly illustrates the interest of systematic biological analysis of ascites, since it may reveal a curable disease.
Caumes
Jean-Luc
JL
Service de pathologie digestive, HIA Clermont Tonnerre, Brest Naval.
Cholet
Franck
F
Richecoeur
Martial
M
Nicolas
Xavier
X
Bire
Franck
F
Bergez
Christian
C
Peghini
Michel
M
Klotz
Francis
F
D000368:Aged; D001201:Ascites / Q000382:microbiology*; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D002908:Chronic Disease; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D004487:Edema / Q000382:microbiology; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010492:Pericardiectomy; D010494:Pericarditis, Constrictive / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D010495:Pericarditis, Tuberculous / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D035583:Rare Diseases; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome