Recurrent Pericarditis and Celiac Disease

Abstract

IDIOPATHIC pericarditis is among the most common forms of recurrent pericarditis. 1 After a thorough evaluation to exclude other, treatable causes, pericarditis is usually treated symptomatically with rest and anti-inflammatory medications. 1 Two recent reports from Great Britain 2,3 have described a potentially curable cause of idiopathic recurrent pericarditis: celiac disease. To the best of our knowledge, the association between recurrent pericarditis and celiac disease has not been reported previously in this country. Report of a Case A 63-year-old man was first admitted to the San Diego Veterans Administration Medical Center in 1976 with left-sided pleuritic chest pain. The patient had a pericardial rub, and chest roentgenograms showed a transient left pleural effusion. A diagnosis of pleuropericarditis was made. He was treated with aspirin, and his pain resolved. In 1981, the patient again had pleuritic chest pain. A three-component pericardial rub was heard. An ECG showed diffuse ST elevation,