title: Anuric acute renal failure associated with pericardial effusion without signs of cardiac tamponade.
abstract: This article describes the anuric acute renal failure (ARF) secondary to massive pericardial effusion without tamponade in an 84 year-old man. He was referred to our emergency room with progressive dyspnea and azotemia. An electrocardiogram showed sinus tachycardia. A two-dimensional echocardiogram confirmed the presence of severe pericardial effusion without prominent ventricular diastolic collapse and there were no changes in his vital signs. Laboratory findings showed that his blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine levels were 91.8 and 3.77 mg/dL, respectively. Renal ultrasonography showed no signs of hydronephrosis. Urine output did not increase in spite of giving a saline and furosemide infusion but increased immediately after pericardiocentesis with drainage. His renal function was completely restored 3 days after the procedure. A pericardial biopsy demonstrated invasion of malignant cells. We should keep in mind that pericardial effusion is one of the causes of anuric ARF, although it is not accompanied by tamponade.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Jinju, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jong Woo
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.forename: Yeojin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Eun Jin
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.forename: Kyungo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Hyun Seop
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Se-Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Dong Jun
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000209:etiology*; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001002:Anuria / Q000209:etiology; D002305:Cardiac Tamponade; D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D020519:Pericardiocentesis