MODERATE PERICARDIAL EFFUSION WITH PULMONARY ARTERY HYPERTENSION IN A CASE OF SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS: A CASE STUDY

Abstract

A case of a 40 years old woman who was a known case of systemic sclerosis, presented with cardiac menifestations of moderate pericardial effusion with pulmonary hypertension. Cardiac involvement in systemic sclerosis is a poor prognostic factor and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is an important clinical complication and a leading cause of mortality in this disease. Although, there is no specic treatment for pericardial diseases in systemic sclerosis, but pericardial effusion is associated with PAH or renal crisis, once pericardial effusion is diagnosed, echocardiography is vital to evaluate whether the effusion is progressive, to assess the hemodynamic effects, and to monitor the response to anti-inammatory therapy in acute setting. Cautious pericardial drainage should be considered.