title: [Constrictive pericarditis - new methods in the diagnosis of an old disease: a case report].
abstract: Constrictive pericarditis is a rare clinical entity that can pose diagnostic problems. The gold standard for diagnosis is cardiac catheterization with analysis of intracavitary pressure curves, which are high and, in end-diastole, equal in all chambers. The diastolic profile in both ventricles presents the classic dip-and-plateau pattern and the difference between the diastolic pressures of both ventricles should not exceed 3-5mmHg. Unfortunately, these traditional criteria are not always present and in fact the sensitivity and specificity of equalization of diastolic pressures are relatively low and of limited value in individual patients. This highlights the need to use new cardiac imaging techniques to resolve any doubts. The case described here is a good example.
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Cardiologia I, Hospital de Santa Maria, Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Norte, Lisboa, Portugal. dojreis@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Doroteia
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Luís
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sargento
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gato Varela
authors.forename: Mário G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.forename: Dulce
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Brito
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Madeira
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010494:Pericarditis, Constrictive / Q000175:diagnosis*