[Purulent pericarditis in dermatopolymyositis]

Abstract

The authors report the case of a 33-year-old patient with dermatopolymyositis, admitted to hospital for acute cystic pericarditis with fever and deterioration of the general state. The aetiological diagnosis was obtained by analysis of the pericardial fluid after surgical drainage, revealing purulent Staphylococcus aureus pericarditis. This case emphasises that, despite the marked rarity of pericardial effusion in the course of dermatopolymyositis, due to the steroid sensitivity of this disease, the possibility of septic contamination should be considered in the presence of persistent pericarditis in the context of this disease.