Published in:
Open Access
01-12-2019 | Influenza Virus | Case report
Influenza B virus infection complicated by life-threatening pericarditis: a unique case-report and literature review
Authors:
Silvia Spoto, Emanuele Valeriani, Luciana Locorriere, Giuseppina Beretta Anguissola, Angelo Lauria Pantano, Francesca Terracciani, Elisabetta Riva, Massimo Ciccozzi, Sebastiano Costantino, Silvia Angeletti
Published in:
BMC Infectious Diseases
|
Issue 1/2019
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Abstract
Background
Acute pericarditis may occur frequently after viral infections. To our knowledge, influenza B virus infection complicated by pericarditis without myocardial involvement has never been reported. We report the first case of life-threatening pericarditis caused by influenza B virus infection.
Case presentation
A 48-years-old woman with trisomy 21 and ostium primum atrial septal defect was transferred from Cardiology to our Internal Medicine Department for severe pericardial effusion unresponsive to ibuprofen and colchicine. Based on the recent patient history of flu-like syndrome, and presence of pleuro-pericardial effusion, a viral etiology was suspected. Laboratory evaluation and molecular assay of tracheal aspirate identified influenza B virus. Therefore, the ongoing metilprednisolone and colchicine therapy was implemented with oseltamivir with progressive patient improvement and no evidence of pericardial effusion recurrence during follow-up.
Conclusions
Especially in autumn and winter periods, clinicians should include Influenza B virus infection on differential diagnosis of pericarditis with large pericardial effusion.