Chylopericardium causing cardiac tamponade in a patient with lymphangioleiomyomatosis
Authors:
Isaac Jun Jie Fong,
Xu Cong Ruan,
Yann Shan Keh,
Yi-Hern Tan
Background: Chylopericardium is a rare entity characterized by the accumulation of chylous fluid in the pericardial cavity. Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare, progressive systemic disease with prominent features of lung cysts, abdominal tumors, and the development of chylous effusions, usually in the thorax and/or abdomen. Chylopericardium in association with LAM is exceedingly rare, with only a few cases reported in the literature. Case Presentation: We report a case of a 61-year-old woman with chronic dyspnea and bilateral cystic lung disease who presented with a 1-week history of acutely worsening dyspnea. At presentation, she was tachycardiac and hypoxemic, an electrocardiogram detected sinus tachycardia, and a chest radiograph was indeterminate for a small right apical pneumothorax or an apical bulla. An urgent echocardiogram revealed a large pericardial effusion with features of cardiac tamponade, necessitating urgent pericardiocentesis. Analysis of the pericardial fluid confirmed the presence of chylopericardium and a diagnosis of LAM was made. Oral Sirolimus was started and at 1 year of follow-up, the patient has successfully avoided repeat pericardiocentesis. Conclusion: This case describes a rare presentation of a rare disease and suggests that treatment with sirolimus may potentially be effective in reducing the accumulation of chylopericardium in LAM.
Keywords: Lymphangioleiomyomatosis, lung cysts, cardiac tamponade, chylopericardium, dyspnea, case report.
Authors
Correspondence to:
Isaac Jun Jie Fong, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Changi General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore isaac.fong@mohh.com.sg
Publication history:
Received 15 Oct 2022
Revised 15 Dec 2022
Accepted 15 Dec 2022
Published online 01 Jan 2023
Published in print 30 Jan 2023
Fong IJJ, Ruan XC, Keh YS, Tan Y. Chylopericardium causing cardiac tamponade in a patient with lymphangioleiomyomatosis. EJMCR. 2023; 7(2): 46-51. doi:
10.24911/ejmcr/173-1664549057
Fong IJJ, Ruan XC, Keh YS, Tan Y. Chylopericardium causing cardiac tamponade in a patient with lymphangioleiomyomatosis. https://www.ejmcr.com/?mno=118565 [Access: September 14, 2024]. doi:
10.24911/ejmcr/173-1664549057
Fong IJJ, Ruan XC, Keh YS, Tan Y. Chylopericardium causing cardiac tamponade in a patient with lymphangioleiomyomatosis. EJMCR. 2023; 7(2): 46-51. doi:
10.24911/ejmcr/173-1664549057
Fong IJJ, Ruan XC, Keh YS, Tan Y. Chylopericardium causing cardiac tamponade in a patient with lymphangioleiomyomatosis. EJMCR. (2023), [cited September 14, 2024]; 7(2): 46-51. doi:
10.24911/ejmcr/173-1664549057
Fong, I. J. J., Ruan, . X. C., Keh, . Y. S. & Tan, . Y. (2023) Chylopericardium causing cardiac tamponade in a patient with lymphangioleiomyomatosis. EJMCR, 7 (2), 46-51. doi:
10.24911/ejmcr/173-1664549057
Fong, Isaac Jun Jie, Xu Cong Ruan, Yann Shan Keh, and Yi-Hern Tan. 2023. Chylopericardium causing cardiac tamponade in a patient with lymphangioleiomyomatosis. European Journal of Medical Case Reports, 7 (2), 46-51. doi:
10.24911/ejmcr/173-1664549057
Fong, Isaac Jun Jie, Xu Cong Ruan, Yann Shan Keh, and Yi-Hern Tan. "Chylopericardium causing cardiac tamponade in a patient with lymphangioleiomyomatosis." European Journal of Medical Case Reports 7 (2023), 46-51. doi:
10.24911/ejmcr/173-1664549057
Fong, Isaac Jun Jie, Xu Cong Ruan, Yann Shan Keh, and Yi-Hern Tan. "Chylopericardium causing cardiac tamponade in a patient with lymphangioleiomyomatosis." European Journal of Medical Case Reports 7.2 (2023), 46-51. Print. doi:
10.24911/ejmcr/173-1664549057
Fong, I. J. J., Ruan, . X. C., Keh, . Y. S. & Tan, . Y. (2023) Chylopericardium causing cardiac tamponade in a patient with lymphangioleiomyomatosis. European Journal of Medical Case Reports, 7 (2), 46-51. doi:
10.24911/ejmcr/173-1664549057