[Idiopathic constrictive péricarditis revealed by a massive left pleural effusion].
BACKGROUND
We report a case of constrictive péricarditis initially revealed by a massive left sided pleural effusion.


METHODS
The patient was dyspnoeic without any associated clinical signs. Only cardiac catheterization gave the diagnosis with a characteristic dip-plateau of the right ventricle. After full assessment, no aetiology was found.


CONCLUSIONS
After a treatment with corticosteroids, the progress has been favourable to date.
Service de pneumologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de la Croix-Rousse, Lyon, France. ghistw@yahoo.fr
G
G
Tsémo Watchueng
E
E
De La Roche
S
S
Duperret
D
D
Arpin
M
M
Perol
C
C
Depagne
P
P
Nesme
J-C
JC
Guerin
D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010493:Pericarditis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000209:etiology*