[Cardiac tamponade with paroxysmal atrial flutter controlled by antituberculous therapy]

Nihon Ronen Igakkai Zasshi. 2004 Jan;41(1):112-6. doi: 10.3143/geriatrics.41.112.
[Article in Japanese]

Abstract

We report a rare and unique case of possible extrapulmonary tuberculosis in an 83-year-old man who had cardiac tamponade and paroxysmal atrial flutter. The patient was admitted to our hospital because of syncope. The cardiac tamponade and paroxysmal atrial flutter were treated by pericardiocentesis and drainage of bloody pericardial fluid. Mycobacterium tuberculosis was not detected in diagnostic specimens, nor was any evidence of malignancy found. The remarkable elevation of adenosine deaminase and the predominance of lymphocytes in the pericardial fluid, considering the past history of tuberculosis, led to a diagnosis of extrapulmonary tuberculosis. After receiving standard antituberculous therapy by ethambutol, isoniazid, and rifampicin, the patient recovered and has remained well up to the present day. Thirty-six months have passed since his recovery without the recurrence of cardiac tamponade or any other cardiac events.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antitubercular Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Atrial Flutter / etiology*
  • Cardiac Tamponade / drug therapy*
  • Cardiac Tamponade / etiology*
  • Drainage
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Ethambutol / administration & dosage
  • Humans
  • Isoniazid / administration & dosage
  • Male
  • Rifampin / administration & dosage
  • Tuberculosis / complications*
  • Tuberculosis / drug therapy

Substances

  • Antitubercular Agents
  • Ethambutol
  • Isoniazid
  • Rifampin