What Causes Bilateral Pleural Effusion: A Case Report

ABSTRACT Background Tuberculous pericarditis begins with fibrinous and hemorrhagic pericarditis, followed by pericardial effusion, then pericardial hypertrophy, which may turn into subacute or chronic stage, and partly develop into pericarditis. Early diagnosis and treatment have very important clin...

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Main Authors: Miaojuan Zhu, Shuaiyu Lin, Yifei Chen, Jiong Yang, Hanxiang Nie
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-03-01
Series:The Clinical Respiratory Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1111/crj.70055
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author Miaojuan Zhu
Shuaiyu Lin
Yifei Chen
Jiong Yang
Hanxiang Nie
author_facet Miaojuan Zhu
Shuaiyu Lin
Yifei Chen
Jiong Yang
Hanxiang Nie
author_sort Miaojuan Zhu
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Background Tuberculous pericarditis begins with fibrinous and hemorrhagic pericarditis, followed by pericardial effusion, then pericardial hypertrophy, which may turn into subacute or chronic stage, and partly develop into pericarditis. Early diagnosis and treatment have very important clinical significance. Case Summary We present a case of an 82‐year‐old man with a known history of hypertension who was admitted for pleural effusion. CT scan of the chest showed findings of pleural effusion. An echocardiographic study during admission revealed a small amount of pericardial effusion (~1.2 cm in thickness). A whole‐body positron emission tomography‐computer tomography (PET‐CT) scan was then performed and showed a slightly increased fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in the entire pericardium considering tuberculosis. He was started on antituberculosis (TB) medications and tolerated them well. Follow‐up echocardiographic study showed no re‐accumulation of pleural effusion and pericardial fluid. Conclusion Transudative–exudative pleural effusion may be one of the clinical manifestations of tuberculous pericarditis. (1) Bilateral leaking pleural effusion may be the early clinical manifestation of tuberculous pericarditis; (2) PET/CT in the diagnosis and efficacy evaluation of tuberculous pericarditis is valuable; and (3) the central venous pressure may be an indicator of choice for treatment of tuberculous pericarditis.
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spelling doaj-art-5590151e1c8d4d18849aaeaf0fb65c502025-08-20T02:40:52ZengWileyThe Clinical Respiratory Journal1752-69811752-699X2025-03-01193n/an/a10.1111/crj.70055What Causes Bilateral Pleural Effusion: A Case ReportMiaojuan Zhu0Shuaiyu Lin1Yifei Chen2Jiong Yang3Hanxiang Nie4Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University Wuhan ChinaDepartment of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University Wuhan ChinaDepartment of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University Wuhan ChinaDepartment of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University Wuhan ChinaDepartment of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University Wuhan ChinaABSTRACT Background Tuberculous pericarditis begins with fibrinous and hemorrhagic pericarditis, followed by pericardial effusion, then pericardial hypertrophy, which may turn into subacute or chronic stage, and partly develop into pericarditis. Early diagnosis and treatment have very important clinical significance. Case Summary We present a case of an 82‐year‐old man with a known history of hypertension who was admitted for pleural effusion. CT scan of the chest showed findings of pleural effusion. An echocardiographic study during admission revealed a small amount of pericardial effusion (~1.2 cm in thickness). A whole‐body positron emission tomography‐computer tomography (PET‐CT) scan was then performed and showed a slightly increased fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in the entire pericardium considering tuberculosis. He was started on antituberculosis (TB) medications and tolerated them well. Follow‐up echocardiographic study showed no re‐accumulation of pleural effusion and pericardial fluid. Conclusion Transudative–exudative pleural effusion may be one of the clinical manifestations of tuberculous pericarditis. (1) Bilateral leaking pleural effusion may be the early clinical manifestation of tuberculous pericarditis; (2) PET/CT in the diagnosis and efficacy evaluation of tuberculous pericarditis is valuable; and (3) the central venous pressure may be an indicator of choice for treatment of tuberculous pericarditis.https://doi.org/10.1111/crj.70055case reportpericardial volume‐pressure curvePET/CTpleural effusiontuberculous pericarditis
spellingShingle Miaojuan Zhu
Shuaiyu Lin
Yifei Chen
Jiong Yang
Hanxiang Nie
What Causes Bilateral Pleural Effusion: A Case Report
The Clinical Respiratory Journal
case report
pericardial volume‐pressure curve
PET/CT
pleural effusion
tuberculous pericarditis
title What Causes Bilateral Pleural Effusion: A Case Report
title_full What Causes Bilateral Pleural Effusion: A Case Report
title_fullStr What Causes Bilateral Pleural Effusion: A Case Report
title_full_unstemmed What Causes Bilateral Pleural Effusion: A Case Report
title_short What Causes Bilateral Pleural Effusion: A Case Report
title_sort what causes bilateral pleural effusion a case report
topic case report
pericardial volume‐pressure curve
PET/CT
pleural effusion
tuberculous pericarditis
url https://doi.org/10.1111/crj.70055
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