title: Carbimazole-induced exudative pleural effusions.
abstract: Carbimazole, an antithyroid drug, is associated with a significant number of side effects, but pleuropulmonary complications are rare. We report the case of a 42-year-old Caucasian man who developed dyspnoea secondary to bilateral exudative pleural effusions while on carbimazole therapy. Extensive investigations, including a vasculitic screen, ruled out other potential causes for this patient's clinical presentation. This patient's pleural effusions gradually resolved within a few months of stopping carbimazole therapy, suggesting a role for the latter in the aetiopathogenesis of his presentation. Clinicians should consider discontinuing treatment with carbimazole and introducing alternative antithyroid therapy in this setting, once other potential causes of a pleural effusion have been systematically ruled out.
authors.affiliation: Diabetes and Endocrine Centre, Mater Dei Hospital, Msida, Malta Department of Medicine, University of Malta Medical School, Msida, Malta.
authors.forename: Carol D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Cardona Attard
authors.affiliation: Diabetes and Endocrine Centre, Mater Dei Hospital, Msida, Malta Department of Medicine, University of Malta Medical School, Msida, Malta.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gruppetta
authors.affiliation: Diabetes and Endocrine Centre, Mater Dei Hospital, Msida, Malta Department of Medicine, University of Malta Medical School, Msida, Malta.
authors.forename: Josanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vassallo
authors.affiliation: Diabetes and Endocrine Centre, Mater Dei Hospital, Msida, Malta Department of Medicine, University of Malta Medical School, Msida, Malta.
authors.forename: Sandro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vella
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D013956:Antithyroid Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002231:Carbimazole / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000139:chemically induced*
chemical_list: D013956:Antithyroid Agents; D002231:Carbimazole