Constrictive Pericarditis in a Hemodialysis Patient Who Presented with Rapidly Progressive Pericardial Calcification: A Diagnostic Challenge – A Case Report

Introduction: Constrictive pericarditis (CP) is characterized by impaired diastolic filling of the ventricles, which typically causes right heart failure. Its diagnosis may be challenging because it mimics other disorders. Furthermore, prompt diagnosis and treatment are more crucial in ca...

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Main Authors: Oho Tsunematsu, Shin-ichi Takeda, Mitsutaka Yamaguchi, Miwa Kaneko, Kazuho Oe, Yoshiaki Murakami, Daisuke Nagata
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Karger Publishers 2025-02-01
Series:Case Reports in Nephrology and Dialysis
Online Access:https://karger.com/article/doi/10.1159/000543999
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author Oho Tsunematsu
Shin-ichi Takeda
Mitsutaka Yamaguchi
Miwa Kaneko
Kazuho Oe
Yoshiaki Murakami
Daisuke Nagata
author_facet Oho Tsunematsu
Shin-ichi Takeda
Mitsutaka Yamaguchi
Miwa Kaneko
Kazuho Oe
Yoshiaki Murakami
Daisuke Nagata
author_sort Oho Tsunematsu
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Constrictive pericarditis (CP) is characterized by impaired diastolic filling of the ventricles, which typically causes right heart failure. Its diagnosis may be challenging because it mimics other disorders. Furthermore, prompt diagnosis and treatment are more crucial in cases of hemodialysis; otherwise, maintenance dialysis would be hampered by severe hypotension. Case Presentation: We report the case of a 53-year-old man on hemodialysis who developed CP with shock. His blood pressure was 55/30 mm Hg at the time of hospitalization due to presyncope. He continued hemodialysis but with some difficulty. However, right pleural effusion persisted because of impaired fluid removal by hemodialysis. Despite such severe manifestations, the distinctive clinical features of CP were lacking. By carefully evaluating the time course of computed tomography images, progressive calcification in the pericardium emerged as a significant clue. Cardiac catheterization subsequently revealed a dip-and-plateau pattern of right ventricular pressure, which led to a definitive diagnosis of CP. Soon after the diagnosis, he underwent successful surgery. Conclusion: An important finding was that, unlike calcific lesions in the general dialysis population, the patient’s calcific lesions were mostly confined to the pericardium and progressed on a monthly basis. Thus, the present case may provide deep insight into the diagnosis of CP and the management of hemodialysis patients with severe hypotension.
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spelling doaj-art-95aa008785144c19a697486c097c18ad2025-08-20T03:09:48ZengKarger PublishersCase Reports in Nephrology and Dialysis2296-97052025-02-01151334010.1159/000543999Constrictive Pericarditis in a Hemodialysis Patient Who Presented with Rapidly Progressive Pericardial Calcification: A Diagnostic Challenge – A Case ReportOho TsunematsuShin-ichi TakedaMitsutaka YamaguchiMiwa KanekoKazuho OeYoshiaki MurakamiDaisuke Nagata Introduction: Constrictive pericarditis (CP) is characterized by impaired diastolic filling of the ventricles, which typically causes right heart failure. Its diagnosis may be challenging because it mimics other disorders. Furthermore, prompt diagnosis and treatment are more crucial in cases of hemodialysis; otherwise, maintenance dialysis would be hampered by severe hypotension. Case Presentation: We report the case of a 53-year-old man on hemodialysis who developed CP with shock. His blood pressure was 55/30 mm Hg at the time of hospitalization due to presyncope. He continued hemodialysis but with some difficulty. However, right pleural effusion persisted because of impaired fluid removal by hemodialysis. Despite such severe manifestations, the distinctive clinical features of CP were lacking. By carefully evaluating the time course of computed tomography images, progressive calcification in the pericardium emerged as a significant clue. Cardiac catheterization subsequently revealed a dip-and-plateau pattern of right ventricular pressure, which led to a definitive diagnosis of CP. Soon after the diagnosis, he underwent successful surgery. Conclusion: An important finding was that, unlike calcific lesions in the general dialysis population, the patient’s calcific lesions were mostly confined to the pericardium and progressed on a monthly basis. Thus, the present case may provide deep insight into the diagnosis of CP and the management of hemodialysis patients with severe hypotension. https://karger.com/article/doi/10.1159/000543999
spellingShingle Oho Tsunematsu
Shin-ichi Takeda
Mitsutaka Yamaguchi
Miwa Kaneko
Kazuho Oe
Yoshiaki Murakami
Daisuke Nagata
Constrictive Pericarditis in a Hemodialysis Patient Who Presented with Rapidly Progressive Pericardial Calcification: A Diagnostic Challenge – A Case Report
Case Reports in Nephrology and Dialysis
title Constrictive Pericarditis in a Hemodialysis Patient Who Presented with Rapidly Progressive Pericardial Calcification: A Diagnostic Challenge – A Case Report
title_full Constrictive Pericarditis in a Hemodialysis Patient Who Presented with Rapidly Progressive Pericardial Calcification: A Diagnostic Challenge – A Case Report
title_fullStr Constrictive Pericarditis in a Hemodialysis Patient Who Presented with Rapidly Progressive Pericardial Calcification: A Diagnostic Challenge – A Case Report
title_full_unstemmed Constrictive Pericarditis in a Hemodialysis Patient Who Presented with Rapidly Progressive Pericardial Calcification: A Diagnostic Challenge – A Case Report
title_short Constrictive Pericarditis in a Hemodialysis Patient Who Presented with Rapidly Progressive Pericardial Calcification: A Diagnostic Challenge – A Case Report
title_sort constrictive pericarditis in a hemodialysis patient who presented with rapidly progressive pericardial calcification a diagnostic challenge a case report
url https://karger.com/article/doi/10.1159/000543999
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