Protein-losing enteropathy in association with constrictive pericarditis.
Although acute pericarditis is a common and usual benign disorder, sometimes evolution to constrictive pericarditis may occur. We present a case of constrictive pericarditis late after coronary bypass grafting, complicated by right sided heart failure. Edema formation was aggravated due to protein-losing enteropathy, resulting in hypoalbuminemia. Imaging of constrictive pericarditis was done by ultrasound as well as simultaneous pressure recording of the right and left ventricle. Imaging of intestinal protein loss was possible using intravenous Technetium-99m-labelled human serum albumin.
Meijers
Björn K I
BK
Department of Cardiology, Maastricht University Hospital, Maastricht, The Netherlands. bjornmeijers@yahoo.com
Schalla
Simon
S
Eerens
Filip
F
Van Suylen
Robert-J
RJ
Broers
Bernard
B
Cheriex
Emile M
EM
Smedema
Jan-P
JP
D000368:Aged; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D010492:Pericardiectomy; D010494:Pericarditis, Constrictive / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D010496:Pericardium / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D011504:Protein-Losing Enteropathies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012709:Serum Albumin
D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D012709:Serum Albumin; C107869:technetium Tc 99m serum albumin