Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Pneumopericardium complicating invasive pulmonary aspergillosis: Case report and review

Pneumoperikard als Komplikation einer invasiven Lungen-Aspergillose — Kasuistik und Übersicht —

  • Case Report
  • Published:
Infection Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Pneumopericardium, the presence of air in the pericardial space, is a rare disorder that is usually caused by trauma. We describe a patient given induction chemotherapy for acute myelogenous leukemia who developed pulmonary aspergillosis that resulted in pericarditis and pneumopericardium. He responded to antifungal treatment and recovered from granulocytopenia, but died early during the next course of chemotherapy. Two other reported cases of pneumopericardium associated with pulmonary aspergillosis are summarized.

Zusammenfassung

Das selten vorkommende Pneumoperikard, definiert als Luftansammlung im Herzbeutel, wird meistens durch ein Trauma verursacht. Der Krankheitsverlauf eines mit Induktionschemotherapie wegen akuter myeloischer Leukämie behandelten Patienten wird beschrieben. Auf der Basis einer pulmonalen Aspergillusinfektion entwickelte sich eine Perikarditis und ein Pneumoperikard. Zwar konnte der Patient erfolgreich mit antimykotischer Therapie behandelt werden und erholte sich von seiner Granulozytopenie, verstarb jedoch im Verlauf der nachfolgenden Chemotherapie. Im weiteren werden aus der Literatur die Fälle von zwei anderen Patienten mit einem mit pulmonaler Aspergillose assoziierten Pneumoperikard erläutert.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Cummings, R. G., Wesly, R. L. R., Adams, D. H., Lowe, J. E. Pneumopericardium resulting in cardiac tamponade. Ann. Thorac. Surg. 37 (1984) 511–518.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Katzir, D., Klinovsky, E., Kent, V., Shucri, A., Gilboa, Y. Spontaneous pneumopericardium: case report and review of the literature. Cardiology 76 (1989) 305–308.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Bricketeau, M. Observation d'hydropneumopéricarde accompagné d'un bruit de fluctuation perceptible a l'oreille. Archs. Gén. Méd. 4 (1844) 334.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Walsh, T. J., Hutchins, G. M. Aspergillus mural endocarditis. Am. J. Clin. Pathol. 71 (1979) 640–644.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Walsh, T. J., Hutchins, G. M., Bulkley, B. H., Mendelsohn, G. Fungal infections of the heart: analysis of 51 autopsy cases. Am. J. Cardiol. 45 (1980) 357–366.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Walsh, T. J., Bulkley, B. H. Aspergillus pericarditis: clinical and pathologic features in the immunocompromised patient. Cancer 49 (1982) 48–54.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Denning, W. D., Stevens, D. A. Antifungal and surgical treatment of invasive aspergillosis. Review of 2,121 published cases. Rev. Infect. Dis. 6 (1990) 1147–1201.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Denning, D. W. Epidemiology and pathogenesis of systemic fungal infections in the immunocompromised host. J. Antimicrob. Chemother. 28 Suppl. B (1991) 1–16.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Young, R. C., Bennett, J. E., Vogel, C. L., Carbone, P. P., DeVita, V. T. Aspergillosis. The spectrum of the disease in 98 patients. Medicine (Baltimore) 49 (1970) 147–173.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Luce, J. M., Ostenson, R. C., Springmeyer, S. C., Hudson, L. D. Invasive aspergillosis presenting as pericarditis and cardiac tamponade. Chest 6 (1979) 703–705.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Müller, N. L., Miller, R. R., Ostrow, D. N., Nelems, B., Vickars, L. M. Tension pneumopericardium: an unusual manifestation of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. Am. J. Roentgenol. 148 (1987) 678–680.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Owens, C. M., Hamon, M. D., Graham, T. R., Wood, A. J., Newland, A. C. Bronchopericardial fistula and pneumopericardium complicating invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. Clin. Lab. Hemat. 12 (1990) 351–354.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Robertson, M. J., Larson, R. A. Recurrent fungal pneumonias in patients with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia undergoing multiple courses of intensive chemotherapy. Am. J. Med. 84 (1984) 233–239.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Dupont, B., Drouhet, E. Early experience with itraconazolein vitro and in patients: pharmacokinetic studies and clinical results. Rev. Infect. Dis. Suppl 1 (1987) 71–76.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Denning, D. W., Tucker, R. M., Hanson, L. H., Stevens, D. A. Treatment of invasive aspergillosis with itraconazole. Am. J. Med. 86 (1989) 791–800.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Van der Hoven, B., Hendriks, W. O. H., Sizoo, W. Possible failure of itraconazole in preventing fungal infection in a neutropenic leukemic patient. Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. 11 (1992) 202–203.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Haematology, University Hospital Nijmegen, P. O. Box 9101, NL-6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    Annelies van Ede M. D. & B. E. de Pauw M. D., Ph. D.

  2. Dept. of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Nijmegen, P. O. Box 9101, NL-6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    J. F. G. M. Meis M. D., Ph. D.

  3. Dept. of Pathology, University Hospital Nijmegen, P. O. Box 9101, NL-6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    R. A. C. Koot M. D.

  4. Dept. of Radiology, University Hospital Nijmegen, P. O. Box 9101, NL-6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    F. M. J. Heystraten M. D., Ph. D.

Authors
  1. Annelies van Ede M. D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. B. E. de Pauw M. D., Ph. D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. F. G. M. Meis M. D., Ph. D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. R. A. C. Koot M. D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. F. M. J. Heystraten M. D., Ph. D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

van Ede, A., de Pauw, B.E., Meis, J.F.G.M. et al. Pneumopericardium complicating invasive pulmonary aspergillosis: Case report and review. Infection 22, 102–105 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01739015

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01739015

Keywords

Search

Navigation