scholarly journals 544 Two cases of constrictive pericarditis temporally associated with mRNA-1273 COVID-19 vaccination

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (Supplement_G) ◽  
Author(s):  
Davide Diana ◽  
Ilaria Cardillo ◽  
Vincenzo Polizzi ◽  
Francesco Musumeci

Abstract Aims The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has led to the development of the mRNA vaccines in humans which are well tolerated, safe, and highly efficacious; however, post-marketing surveillance is revealing potential rare cardiac adverse effects as acute pericarditis. We herein report two cases of symptomatic constrictive pericarditis following administration of the second dose of mRNA-1273 (Moderna) SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Methods and results Case summary: A 75 years old male with history of hypertension and COPD presented to our Hospital approximately one month after the second dose of mRNA-1273 SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine with dyspnoea and leg oedema. Routine analysis resulted normal, no increasing of inflammatory markers or ECG abnormalities. Echocardiogram showed circumferential fibrinous pericardial effusion without tamponade and typical features of constrictive pericarditis: annulus reversus, ventricular interdependence, expiratory diastolic flow reversal in hepatic vein, inferior vena cava plethora. Pleural ultrasound showed bilateral pleural effusion that was sampled and showed a transudate fluid. Tumoral marker and a CT Scan, autoimmunity panel, blood tests for bacteraemia and Quantiferon were negative. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging confirmed thickening of pericardium. A 68 years old male with history of ischaemic heart disease with previous CABG, hypertension, dyslipidaemia and chronic kidney disease presented with palpitations and mild legs swelling. Approximately, 2 months before he received the second dose of mRNA-1273 SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Routine blood examinations resulted normal, ECG showed a right bundle branch block. Echocardiogram showed a mild enlargement of LV with normal systolic function, a moderate primary mitral regurgitation and a circumferential pericardial effusion, showing signs of constrictive syndrome. CT Scan demonstrated pericardium thickness. Constrictive pericarditis may represent a subacute complication of an asymptomatic exudative acute pericarditis. Although cases of acute pericarditis have been reported after SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, to our knowledge, the association with constrictive pericarditis has not been described. The temporal link between vaccination and symptoms development as the biological plausibility of autoimmune or cross-reaction response to vaccination in predisposed subjects could suggest a possible correlation as an adverse event, even if causality could not be established. Conclusions We present two cases of constrictive pericarditis occurring after mRNA-1273 SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, aiming further data to confirm a causal role.

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (Supplement_G) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paolo Marco Pietro Spissu ◽  
Simone Angius ◽  
Maria Francesca Marchetti ◽  
Ludovica Caggiari ◽  
Alessandra Gioi ◽  
...  

Abstract Aims Transient constrictive pericarditis (TCP) is a rare manifestation which can occur in up to 15% of cases of acute pericarditis and most have resolution after 3 months of anti-inflammatory therapy. Methods and results We present the case of a young guy who showed up at our emergency department complaining of pericarditic chest pain and fever up to 39 °C degrees since the previous 4 days. After physical examination, electrocardiogram, blood tests, chest X-ray, and echocardiography acute pericarditis with severe pericardial effusion (more than 20 mm of thickness) were diagnosed and an empiric anti-inflammatory therapy with ibuprofen and colchicine was started. After 2 weeks of therapy, patient was not clinically improving with a worsened pericardial effusion and only a mild reduction of inflammatory markers. During an echocardiographic examination, features of constrictive physiology were discovered: respirophasic interventricular septal shift, increased respiratory variation of the mitral and tricuspidal inflow, plethoric inferior vena cava, and ‘annulus reversus’ and ‘annulus paradoxus’ on Tissue Doppler Imaging (TDI). Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) was also performed to confirm the diagnosis of acute pericardial constriction: it revealed increased T2-weighted imaging signal and increased Delayed Gadolinium Enhanced (DGE) signal, respectively consistent with oedema and with neovascularization, both suggestive of acute pericardial inflammation. Therefore, oral low doses corticosteroid was started After 2 weeks course of ‘triple therapy’ the patient was clinically improved and the echocardiographic features of constrictive physiology were no longer present thus allowing his discharge and the continuation of therapy at home. Conclusions This case was remarkable because it showed that constrictive pericarditis may present in a reversible form with medical therapy, this meaning it is due to pericardial oedema, inflammation and fibrin deposition similar to acute pericarditis rather than the pericardial fibrosis and calcification more commonly seen in chronic pericardial constriction.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 175628642110019
Author(s):  
Hiroyuki Murai ◽  
Shigeaki Suzuki ◽  
Miki Hasebe ◽  
Yuji Fukamizu ◽  
Ema Rodrigues ◽  
...  

Background: Eculizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody targeted to terminal complement protein C5, is approved in Japan for treatment of patients with anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody-positive (AChR+) generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) whose symptoms are difficult to control with high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) therapy or plasmapheresis. Methods: This interim analysis of mandatory post-marketing surveillance in Japan assessed the safety and effectiveness of eculizumab at 26 weeks after treatment initiation in patients with AChR+ gMG. Results: Data were available for 40 adult patients in Japan [62.5% (25/40) female; mean age at eculizumab initiation, 51.0 years]. Fifteen patients had a history of thymoma. Six patients were excluded from the effectiveness analysis set due to participation in the open-label extension part of the phase III, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled REGAIN study [ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02301624]. After 26 weeks’ follow up, 32 patients (80%) were continuing eculizumab treatment. Adverse drug reactions were reported by seven patients [most frequently headache ( n = 3)]. One death was reported during eculizumab treatment (relationship unclear as determined by the treating physician) and there was one death 45 days after the last dose (considered unrelated). No meningococcal infections were reported. Mean (standard deviation) changes from baseline in Myasthenia Gravis-Activities of Daily Living (MG-ADL) and Quantitative Myasthenia Gravis (QMG) scores were −3.7 (2.61) ( n = 27) and −5.6 (3.50) ( n = 26), respectively, at 12 weeks, and −4.3 (2.72) ( n = 26) and −5.6 (4.02) ( n = 24), respectively, at 26 weeks. Improvements in MG-ADL and QMG scores were generally similar in patients with/without a history of thymoma. Frequency of IVIg use decreased following eculizumab initiation. Conclusion: In a real-world setting, eculizumab was effective and well tolerated for the treatment of AChR+ gMG in adult Japanese patients whose disease was refractory to IVIg or plasmapheresis. These findings are consistent with the efficacy and safety results from the global phase III REGAIN study of eculizumab.


2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Terrence D. Welch ◽  
Kyle W Klarich ◽  
Jae K. Oh

The pericardium consists of a fibrous sac and a serous membrane. Because of its simple structure, the clinical syndromes involving the pericardium are relatively few but vary substantially in severity. Cardiac tumors may be either primary or secondary and either benign or malignant, with attachment sites throughout the endocardium. Cardiovascular trauma should be suspected in all patients with chest injuries or severe generalized trauma. Cardiovascular injury may be either blunt or penetrating. This review covers pericardial disease, cardiac tumors, and cardiovascular trauma. Figures show an electrocardiogram in acute pericarditis; acute pericarditis with delayed gadolinium enhancement of the pericardium shown with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging; underlying cause of pericardial effusion requiring pericardiocentesis; pericardial pressure-volume curves; large pericardial effusion with swinging motion of the heart resulting in electrical alternans; typical pulsed-wave Doppler pattern of tamponade; underlying causes of constrictive pericarditis in patients undergoing pericardiectomy; pericardial calcification seen on a chest radiograph; thickened pericardium; typical pulsed-wave Doppler pattern of constrictive pericarditis; typical mitral annular tissue velocities in constrictive pericarditis; a diagnostic algorithm for the echocardiographic diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis; simultaneous right ventricular and left ventricular pressure tracings in restrictive cardiomyopathy; computed tomographic scan showing inflammatory constrictive pericarditis; systolic and diastolic transesophageal echocardiographic images of a large left atrial myxoma attached to the atrial septum; a decision tree of management options for patients with suspected papillary; transesophageal echocardiographic examples of aortic valve, mitral valve, left ventricular outflow tract, and tricuspid valve papillary fibroelastomas; and transesophageal short-axis view of the descending thoracic aorta in a hypotensive patient after a motor vehicle accident. The table lists tamponade versus constriction versus restrictive cardiomyopathy. This review contains 18 highly rendered figures, 1 table, and 77 references.


Author(s):  
David Sidebotham ◽  
Alan Merry ◽  
Malcolm Legget ◽  
Gavin Wright

Chapter 16 is a new chapter from earlier editions of Practical Perioperative Transoesophageal Echocardiography. It provides a short summary on the echocardiographic assessment of the normal pericardium and on pericardial disease. The characteristic TOE features of pericardial pathology (cysts, acute pericarditis, pericardial effusion, pericardial tamponade, and constrictive pericarditis) are reviewed. In particular, pericardial constriction is discussed in detail, including outlining the features that distinguish pericardial constriction from restrictive cardiomyopathy. Wherever possible, the spectral Doppler abnormalities associated with pericardial constriction and pericardial tamponade are discussed with reference to patients who are mechanically ventilated.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
A Montes ◽  
A Cecconi ◽  
T Alvarado ◽  
A Vera ◽  
A Barrios ◽  
...  

Abstract A 59 year old man was admited to hospitalization for persistent chest pain related to acute pericarditis. Within the admision tests, a transthoracic echography was performed, showing a moderate pericardial effusion with ventricular septal bounce and significant respiratory variations in mitral and tricuspid inflows, all of it consistent with effusive-constrictive pericarditis (Panel A). Anti-inflammatory treatment with ibuprofen and colchicine was started. During the first 48 hours of admission there was a clinical and hemodinamic worsening in the patient’s condition that forced the performance of a pericardial window, obtaining a very little quantity of dense pericardial fluid. Looking for a more accurate study of the pericardium, a cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) was performed, revealing a thick heterogeneous pericardial effusion (Panel B) and a significant late gadolinium enhancement of both pericardial layers (Panel C). All these findings where consistent with an effusive constrictive pericarditis with persistent inflammatory activity despite high doses of conventional inflammatory treatment. Furthermore, the growth of Propionibacterium acnes in the pericardial fluid disclosed the etiology of this condition. Medical treatment was enhanced with high doses of intravenous corticosteroid, ceftriaxone and doxycycline. During the following days, the patient showed an excellent response achieving the complete clinical and echocardiographic relief of constrictive signs (Panel D). Effusive constrictive pericarditis is characterized by the presence of pericardial effusion and constriction secondary to an inflammatory process of the pericardium. Pericardiectomy might be necessary in case of failure of medical treatment, a very common scenario in this kind of .pericarditis. Our case is remarkable because it demonstrates the value of CMR to detect persistent inflammation of pericardium despite high doses of conventional medical treatment for pericaricarditis guiding the successful escalation to intravenous corticosteroid and avoiding the risk of an unnecessary cardiac surgery. Abstract 1095 Figure.


Aetiology 460Syndromes of pericardial disease 461Acute pericarditis without effusion 461Pericardial effusion with or without tamponade 462Constrictive pericarditis 464Effusive-constrictive pericarditis 465Calcific pericarditis without constriction 465Viral pericarditis 466Tuberculous pericarditis 468Uraemic pericarditis 469Neoplastic pericardial disease 470Myxoedematous effusion ...


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
K Golinska Grzybala ◽  
A Gackowski

Abstract Introduction The objective of this case report is to highlight the difficulties in establishing the proper management in some patients with chronic constrictive pericarditis (CCP). Case Description A 67 year-old-man with a long history of COPD (stage D), coronary heart disease, diabetes mellitus type 2, prostate cancer treated with local radiotherapy and hormonotherapy, was admitted due to progressive fatigue and dyspnoea on exertion,. Three months before he was hospitalised in pulmonary ward because of sudden onset of severe dyspnoea with mild leg oedema, and unusually weak response for typical COPD treatment was observed. At this time local lab test revealed moderately elevated CRP (43.6 mg/l), ESR (36 mm) and NT-proBNP (483 pg/ml). CT scan was performed to exclude pulmonary embolism. No pericardial calcifications were noted. Physical examination showed obesity (33 kg/m2), heato-jugular reflux and mild ankle oedema. Chest auscultation revealed normal lungs sounds and muffled heart sounds. Pleural effusion was excluded and no ascites nor hepatomegaly was found. Echocardiography revealed typical changes for CCP prominent septal bounce during inspiration, annulus reversus (TDI e` lat 16 cm/sek; e` med 18 cm/sek), annulus paradoxus (E/e` 8), normal LV function, dilated vena cava inferior (VCI). MRI showed thickened pericardium (5mm) particularly near the right ventricle (RV) and thick layer of fatty tissue (15 mm) localised in pericardium, next to the RV free wall. RV was compressed (fig.1). LVEF was 63%, EDV 117 ml, SV 74 ml, SVi 33 ml/m2, LV mass 78 g; RV EF 71%, EDV 72 ml/m2, right atrium enlargement was found (38 cm2), while left atrium was of normal size (22 cm2). VCI and hepatic veins were dilated (29 mm and 13mm respectively. Fig 1. MRI – thickened pericardium containing thick fatty tissue causin with RV compression After diuretic uptitration, the dyspnoea improved to NYHA I/II. Due to clinical improvement heart team decided to continue medical treatment. Due to comorbidities (DM, COPD, obesity), the risk of pericardiectomy was considered high. Three month later the patient was hospitalized due to sudden dyspnoea and subsequent cardiac arrest. Despite cardiopulmonary resuscitation the patient died in ICU. CCP was confirmed in autopsy. Discussion The diagnosis of CCP remains challenging. In this case the presentation was not fully typical. There was no clear precipitating factor, the history was relatively short and the symptoms and signs mild. CT scan did not show pericardial calcifications. Although TTE revealed typical features of CCP and MRI confirmed compression of the right ventricle, the heart team did not confirm the need for pericardiectomy, which is treatment of choice in progressive CCP. Abstract P1484 Figure. Fig.1


2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 54
Author(s):  
Hasan Ashraf

A 27-year-old woman presented to the hospital because of a five-month-history of rapidly-accumulating ascites, dyspnea, and fatigue. The patient was otherwise asymptomatic, and required repeated large volume paracenteses. Physical exam was benign except for hepatomegaly and abdominal distension. Laboratory testing demonstrated elevation of transaminases, but further testing was all negative. A chest CT showed pericardial thickening. Subsequent echocardiography was performed to evaluate for constrictive pericarditis, but apart from inferior vena cava (IVC) dilation, there were no other findings suggestive of pericardial constriction. A subsequent cardiac catheterization was suggestive of constrictive pericarditis, so the patient underwent a pericardiectomy. The Mayo Clinic echocardiography diagnostic criteria presents a diagnostic paradigm where the presence of mitral inflow E/A > 0.8 and the presence of a dilated IVC concomitantly provide good sensitivity for echocardiographic diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis (CP). Due to the good sensitivity and specificity of echocardiographic findings, the lack of any characteristic finding is surprising, and suggests the importance of other diagnostic modalities such as CT, cardiac MRI, and cardiac catheterization in conjunction with echocardiography when there is a high suspicion for CP. 


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yousif Al-Saiegh ◽  
Jenna Spears ◽  
Tim Barry ◽  
Christopher Lee ◽  
Howard Haber ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Effusive–constrictive pericarditis (ECP) is a rare syndrome involving pericardial effusion and concomitant constrictive pericarditis. The hallmark is a persistently elevated right atrial pressure of >10 mmHg or reduction of less than 50% from baseline despite pericardiocentesis. Aetiologies include radiation, infection, malignancy, and autoimmune disease. Case summary A 71-year-old man with a history of atrial fibrillation, obesity, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnoea, managed with continuous positive airway pressure presented with acute pericarditis complicated by pericardial effusion leading to cardiac tamponade. He was diagnosed with ECP after pericardiocentesis and was managed surgically with a pericardial window. Discussion Early detected cases of ECP can be managed by medical therapy. Therapeutic interventions include pericardiocentesis, balloon pericardiostomy, and pericardiectomy. This report describes a case of new-onset congestive heart failure secondary to ECP.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
David W. Schoenfeld

Diseases of the pericardium represent a wide range of clinical syndromes that vary substantially in severity, from a benign pericardial effusion to fatal constrictive pericarditis or hemopericardium. Acute pericarditis is the most common pericardial disease, with viral and idiopathic as the most frequent etiologies. Typically, acute pericarditis can be managed as an outpatient with dual-agent therapy consisting of aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug plus colchicine and rarely requires admission. Pericardial effusions are fluid collections in the pericardial cavity. They are a common incidental finding, can be associated with other systemic disease, and at their extreme, cause life-threatening cardiac tamponade. Cardiac tamponade exists on a spectrum with patients who are quasi stable to those where cardiovascular collapse and death are imminent. Cardiac tamponade may be temporized with fluid boluses, but treatment is through pericardiocentesis and occasional surgical intervention. Constrictive pericarditis is progressive process with poor prognosis in which the pericardium becomes rigid and causes diastolic dysfunction, leading to heart failure. Once the diagnosis is made, definitive management is surgical but carries a high operative risk. This review contains 7 highly rendered figures, 5 videos, 3 tables, and 42 references. Key Words: cardiac tamponade, constrictive pericarditis, effusive-constrictive pericarditis, pericardial effusion, pericarditis, pericardiocentesis


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