Chylous ascites and chylothorax due to constrictive pericarditis in a patient infected with HIV: a case report

Chylothorax and chylous ascites are uncommon and usually associated with trauma or neoplasms. To the best of our knowledge, constrictive pericarditis leading to chylothorax and chylous ascites in a person infected with HIV has never previously been described. A 39-year-old Thai man was referred to o...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of medical case reports 2012-06, Vol.6 (1), p.163-163, Article 163
Main Authors: Summachiwakij, Sarawut, Tungsubutra, Wiwun, Koomanachai, Pornpan, Charoenratanakul, Suchai
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Ascites
Care and treatment
Case Report
Case studies
Diagnosis
Health aspects
HIV (Viruses)
HIV infection
HIV patients
Infection
Pericarditis
Tuberculosis
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Summary:Chylothorax and chylous ascites are uncommon and usually associated with trauma or neoplasms. To the best of our knowledge, constrictive pericarditis leading to chylothorax and chylous ascites in a person infected with HIV has never previously been described. A 39-year-old Thai man was referred to our institute with progressive dyspnea, edema and abdominal distension. His medical history included HIV infection and pulmonary tuberculosis that was complicated by tuberculous pericarditis and cardiac tamponade. Upon further investigation, we found constrictive pericarditis, chylothorax and chylous ascites. A pericardiectomy was performed which resulted in gradual resolution of the ascites and chylous effusion. Although constrictive pericarditis is an exceptionally rare cause of chylothorax and chylous ascites, it should nonetheless be considered in the differential diagnosis as a potentially reversible cause.
ISSN:1752-1947
1752-1947
DOI:10.1186/1752-1947-6-163