Abstract

Constrictive Pericarditis (CP) is an unusual disease. Its most common causes are idiopathic or secondary to cardiac surgery. Less frequently it is caused by connective tissue diseases. We report a 30 years old woman hospitalized due to progressive dyspnea, chest pain and signs of right sided heart failure. During her stay, a Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) was diagnosed. The echocardiogram suggested a CP and the diagnosis was confirmed by cardiac catheterization. Pericardiectomy was successfully performed. The biopsy confirmed a nonspecific chronic pericarditis, with extensive fibrosis and absence of caseating granulomas. The patient had a satisfactory recovery.