[Heavy-hearted: chronic constrictive pericarditis].
The purpose of this report is to describe a case involving a 62-year-old Moroccan woman hospitalized for generalized edema that lead to diagnosis of chronic constrictive pericarditis. Diagnosis was confirmed on the basis of pericardial calcification and typical hemodynamic findings. New imaging techniques such as cardiac MRI allow accurate anatomical and physiological assessment in difficult cases. While tuberculosis is rarely involved in industrialized countries, it is a frequent factor in developing countries. The usual treatment consists of pericardectomy in association with standard antituberculosis drugs if association with tuberculosis is established or highly likely.
Paule
P
P
Service de Cardiologie, Hôpital d'Instruction des Armées A. Laveran, 13998 Marseille Armées, France. philippe.paule@orange.fr
Navarro
L
L
Chiche
G
G
Collart
F
F
D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010494:Pericarditis, Constrictive / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic