A 15-year-old girl with pericardial tuberculosis complicated by cardiac tamponade: A case report in Somalia

Abstract

Introduction and importance: Pericarditis is a common illness that can appear in a variety of clinical settings and has numerous causes. In developing nations where tuberculosis is still a serious public health issue, more than 50% of cases of pericarditis are related to tuberculosis.

Case presentation: There was no history of TB, alcoholism, IV drug abuse, immunosuppressant, or corticosteroid use. On examination, she had a fever, tachycardia, pulsus paradoxus of 10 mmHg, hypotension, tachypnea, and a distended jugular vein. On auscultation, her heartbeats were muffled, and accompanied by a pericardial rub. Laboratory investigation showed low hematocrit and a high WBC count with lymphocyte predominance. ESR and CRP levels were elevated. Her chest X-ray revealed an enlargement of the cardiac silhouette. The ECG showed low voltage complexes. Echocardiography showed circumferential 30 mm × 25 mm pericardial effusion with fibrin strands in the visceral pericardium. An emergency pericardiocentesis was performed under the guidance of transthoracic echocardiography using sub-xiphoidal standards. Microbiologic analysis of the pericardial fluid confirmed tuberculosis. After successful pericardiocenthesis, the patient's condition improved massively. After three days of pericardiocentasis drainage, TB treatment was started and she was discharged for outpatient flow up.

Clinical discussion: Tuberculous pericarditis is a serious tuberculosis (TB) complication that can be difficult to diagnose and often goes undetected, leading to late complications such as constrictive pericarditis and cardiac tamponade, which lead to increased mortality. This current case illustrates a young female patient presenting with isolated TB pericarditis complicated by cardiac tamponade. She had massive improvement following pericardiocentesis and anti-TB treatment.

Conclusion: In Africa, tuberculous pericarditis should be considered as a differential diagnosis in any patient presenting with moderate to massive pericardial effusion. A high index of suspicion is required for the diagnosis of extrapulmonary TB pericarditis, especially in patients without known risk factors.

Keywords: Cardiac temponade; Emergency pericardiocentasis; Pericardial effusion; TB.

Fig. 1

Chest x ray demonstrating enlarged cardiac silhouette (bottle shaped heart) indicating pericardial effusion.

Fig. 2

ECG showing low voltage complex in precordial leads.

Fig. 3

Cardiac ultrasound indicating large pericardial effusion.

Fig. 4

Chest tomography (CT) revealed mild pericardial effusion and central line in the pericardial space. the CT was done after.