Sarcoidosis-induced pericarditis in a patient with portopulmonary hypertension: a case report

• Published in: Cases journal 2009-08, Vol.2 (1), p.8640
• Main Authors: Giouleme, Olga, Anagnostis, Panagiotis, Patsiaoura, Kalliopi, Vasiliadis, Themistoklis, Grammatikos, Nikolaos, Kakavas, Nikitas, Mpoumponaris, Alexander, Eugenidis, Nikolaos, Basayannis, Elias
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Case report; Case studies; Complications and side effects; Diagnosis; Dosage and administration; Drug therapy; Methylprednisolone; Patient outcomes; Pericarditis; Risk factors; Sarcoidosis
• ISSN: 1757-1626; 1757-1626
• DOI: 10.4076/1757-1626-2-8640

Portopulmonary hypertension is a rare and severe complication of patients with cirrhosis. Sarcoidosis, a disease of unknown etiology, is also a cause of pulonary hypertension and right heart dysfunction. We report the case of a 51-year-old male patient, suffering from cirrhosis due to Wilson's disease, portal hypertension and pulmonary hypertension (PH), who developed severe pericarditis. Wilson's disease was diagnosed 8 years before his last admission to our hospital and was being successfully treated with D-penicillamine. PH was recognized 2 years before admission and being treated with bosentan. The patient complained for dyspnea at rest and the 2D echocardiogram revealed a significant amount of pericardial fluid. All other causes of acute pericarditis were excluded and his laboratory, imaging and histopathological investigation showed evidence of sarcoidosis. He underwent a therapy with corticosteroids (methylprednisolone) and his follow-up examination showed remarkable decrease of the levels of mean pulmonary artery pressure and pericardial fluid.