title: [A rare cause of right heart failure].
abstract: METHODS
  The case of a 46-year-old male with progressive dyspnea on exertion and severe headache while having the head lowered is described. Clinically, the patient showed left-sided pleural effusion, jugular venous distension, and a congested liver. During cardiologic work-up, echocardiography, combined left/right heart catherization and magnetic resonance imaging established the diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis. Under conservative medical treatment, the patient again developed cardiac decompensation and, therefore, a pericardectomy was performed. Immediately after surgery, symptoms diminished and exercise tolerance increased. The patient is currently in cardiac rehabilitation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Constrictive pericarditis is a rare differential diagnosis of right heart failure. Especially in patients with congested inferior vena cava, but normal systolic left ventricular function and normal function of the cardiac valves, constrictive pericarditis should be considered as a differential diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung Kardiologie und Pneumologie, Herzzentrum Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Rolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wachter
authors.forename: Gerd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hasenfuss
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004452:Echocardiography; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009205:Myocarditis / Q000175:diagnosis; D010492:Pericardiectomy; D010493:Pericarditis / Q000175:diagnosis; D010494:Pericarditis, Constrictive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D010496:Pericardium / Q000473:pathology; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery
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