ETIOLOGY AND CLINICAL PROFILE OF PERICARDIAL EFFUSION PATIENTS

Background Pericardial effusion is one of the most prevalent disorders . Pericardial effusion can create substantial symptoms and a lower quality of life, but its also linked to a higher risk of cardiopulmonary failure, mortality, and death. Pericardial effusion has a variety of causes that are related to the relative occurrence of certain diseases in different parts of the world.

Methods:it was a retrospective study that includes data from all pericardial effusion cases diagnosed . Echocardiography was used to diagnose a total of 50 cases with pericardial effusion. Complete blood count with ESR, blood urea, serum creatinine, tuberculin skin test, chest X-ray, ECG, Thyroid profile, ANA, Rheumatoid factor, CT chest / MRI, and pericardiocentesis were all used to determine the source of the pericardial effusion. Cells, proteins, LDH, malignant cells, ADA, PCR (for Mycobacterium tuberculosis), gram staining, AFB staining, and cultures were all examined in the pericardial fluid. Iatrogenic (cardiac surgery, catheterization) and post-traumatic cases  were excluded .

Results: The majority of the patients were between the ages of 50 and 70. Thirty patients (60%) were men and 20 patients (40%) were women. Tuberculosis was the most prevalent cause of pericardial effusion, accounting for 28 % of cases, followed by Idiopathic 18%, Uremia 12 %, and Malignant 14 %. HIV infection was the least common cause of pericardial effusion, accounting for 2% of cases. Tachycardia was the most common clinical symptom, in 70% of patients, followed by Breathlessness (60%), and fever (56 %).

Conclusions:Tachycardia, shortness of breath, fever, heaviness of chest, cough, chest pain, and other symptoms of pericardial effusion have been noted in this study. Tuberculosis, idiopathic/viral, uremic, neoplastic, CCF, hypothyroidism, post-MI, etc. are all major factors for the development of pericardial effusion.