Characteristics of recurrent pericardial effusions

Shahbaz Sarwar CM, Fatimi S
Correspondence: Dr CM Shahbaz Sarwar, csarwar1@jhmi.edu; shahbaz.sarwar@gmail.com

ABSTRACT
Introduction There are various aetiologies for recurrent pericardial effusions. Malignancy is the commonest cause in the West, but in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, tuberculosis is common and contributes towards a high prevalence of tuberculous recurrent pericardial effusions.
Methods In our hospital-based descriptive study of 32 patients, we looked into various characteristics of recurrent pericardial effusions using the hospital data.
Results We found tuberculosis to be the commonest cause of recurrent effusions, occurring in 50 percent (n = 16) of our patients, followed by malignancy (n = 9). The clinical features at presentation in patients who eventually developed recurrent pericardial effusions were more severe, compared to uncomplicated pericardial effusions.
Conclusion Knowledge of the presenting features of patients with recurrent pericardial effusions is crucial, so that they can be placed under increased surveillance and considered for early institution of pericardial fluid drainage procedures.

Keywords: pericardial effusions, recurrent pericardial effusions, tuberculosis
Singapore Med J 2007; 48(8): 725–728