title: Pericardial effusion requiring pericardiocentesis in a girl with anorexia nervosa.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Silent pericardial effusion is frequently observed in patients with anorexia nervosa. The nature of the pericardial fluid could never be established, as pericardiocentesis was ethically unfeasible.
  
  
  METHODS
  We describe the case of a girl with anorexia nervosa in whom an initial, clinically irrelevant pericardial effusion increased rapidly, making pericardiocentesis necessary to prevent cardiac tamponade.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was thus possible to exclude the inflammatory or infectious nature of the pericardial fluid, although the pathogenesis of this cardiac alteration remains obscure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Echocardiographic examination appears to be strongly advisable in patients with anorexia nervosa.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, University of Milan, Ospedale San Luca IRCCS, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Polli
authors.forename: Simonetta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Blengino
authors.forename: Mirella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moro
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zappulli
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scacchi
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cavagnini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002305:Cardiac Tamponade / Q000517:prevention & control; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D020519:Pericardiocentesis / Q000379:methods*