Pleuropericarditis related to the use of mesalamine

Incidence, Predictors, and Outcomes of Acute Pericarditis in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A 10-Year Nationwide Analysis

Background

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic condition characterized primarily by inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Pericarditis is a rare but important extraintestinal manifestation of IBD that is poorly understood yet is associated with significant morbidity. The objectives of this study were to identify the factors associated with pericarditis in IBD and associated complications.

Methods

Hospitalized adult patients (aged ≥ 18 years) with a diagnosis of acute pericarditis in the IBD cohort, 2011-2020, were identified from the National Inpatient Sample using codes from the International Classification of Diseases (revision 9 or 10). Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify clinical factors associated with pericarditis among IBD patients and in-hospital complications.

Results

During the period 2011-2020, among 3,236,747 IBD patients, 9113 (0.28%) had pericarditis, with a mean patient age of 54.08 ± 0.48 years, and 53.1% females. Patients with IBD and coexisting diagnoses of systemic lupus erythematosus (odds ratio [OR] 1.49, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03-2.15, P = 0.033), rheumatoid arthritis and/or collagen vascular disorders (OR 1.75, 95% CI [1.41-2.17], P < 0.001), or postcardiotomy syndrome (OR 67.13, 95% CI [30.08-149.80], P < 0.001), were each associated with a higher risk of pericarditis. Compared to IBD patients without pericarditis, patients with IBD and pericarditis had an increased associated incidence of inpatient mortality (OR 1.65, 95% CI [1.25-2.18], P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Pericarditis is an uncommon but important manifestation of IBD. The presence of a concomitant autoimmune condition led to a higher likelihood of developing pericarditis among IBD patients, and IBD patients who develop pericarditis had a higher incidence of inpatient mortality compared to IBD patients without pericarditis. Providers should be aware of the connection between IBD and pericarditis to identify individuals at risk of adverse complications.

Analysis of clinical characteristics of mesalazine-induced cardiotoxicity

Background: Mesalazine is the first-line inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) treatment. However, it can cause fatal cardiotoxicity. We aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics of mesalazine-induced cardiotoxicity and provide evidence for clinical diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.

Methods: We collected Chinese and English literature on mesalazine-induced cardiotoxicity from 1970 to 2021 for retrospective analysis.

Results: A total of 52 patients (40 males and 12 females) were included, with a median age of 24.5 years (range 9–62) and a median onset time of 14 days (range 2–2880). Cardiotoxicity manifested as myocarditis, pericarditis, and cardiac pericarditis. The main clinical manifestations are chest pain (82.7%), fever (46.2%), and respiratory symptoms such as dyspnea and cough (40.4%). The levels of troponin T, creatine kinase, C-reactive protein, leukocyte count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and other biochemical markers were significantly increased. Cardiac imaging often suggests myocardial infarction, pericardial effusion, myocardial necrosis, and other symptoms of cardiac injury. It is essential to discontinue mesalamine immediately in patients with cardiotoxicity. Although corticosteroids are a standard treatment option, the benefits remain to be determined. Re-challenge of mesalamine should be carefully considered as cardiotoxic symptoms may reoccur.

Conclusion: Mesalazine may cause cardiotoxicity in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, which should be comprehensively diagnosed based on clinical manifestations, biochemical indicators, and cardiac function imaging examinations. Mesalazine should be immediately discontinued, and corticosteroids may be an effective treatment for cardiotoxicity.

Successful Treatment with Corticosteroids in an 11-Year-Old Patient with Crohn's Disease and Myopericarditis-Case Report

Extraintestinal manifestations (EIMs) are observed in 15-20% of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). One of the rare EIMs is myocarditis, the incidence of which is estimated at around 1%. The main cause of myocarditis is a viral infection. Other causes include autoimmune diseases and drug complications (sulfasalazine, mesalazine). We present the case of an 11-year-old girl with Crohn's disease (CD) with EIMs, manifested as hip joint inflammation and erythema nodosum. At the same time, the symptoms of myopericarditis appeared with changes in electrocardiogram (ECG), echocardiography and high troponin I concentration. Therapy with corticosteroids resulted in the resolution of skin lesions and cardiological symptoms. Systemic connective tissue diseases, viral and bacterial infections were excluded in the differential diagnosis. The suspicion of mesalazine-induced EIMs was also ruled out as the symptoms resolved despite continued therapy with mesalazine. No further recurrences of myopericarditis were observed.

Cardiovascular Manifestations in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Systematic Review of the Pathogenesis and Management of Pericarditis

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic condition of the bowel that can be further categorized into ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Rarely, this condition can be associated with pericarditis, which can be an extraintestinal manifestation of the disease or drug-induced. This review aims to determine the pathogenesis and management of pericarditis in IBD. In this review, the goal is to elucidate the pathogenesis of pericarditis in IBD and determine if pericarditis is an extraintestinal manifestation of IBD or a complication of current drug therapy used to manage IBD. Additionally, this review intends to explain the first-line management of pericarditis in IBD and explore the role of biologicals in attenuating pericarditis. An electronic search was conducted to identify relevant reports of pericarditis in IBD, and a quality assessment was conducted to identify high-quality articles according to the inclusion criteria. Full-text articles from inception to November 2020 were included, while non-English articles, gray literature, and animal studies were excluded. The majority of studies suggest that pericarditis arises as a complication of drug therapy by 5-aminosalicylic acid derivatives such as sulfasalazine, mesalamine, and balsalazide, and it occurs due to IgE-mediated allergic reactions, direct cardiac toxicity, cell-mediated hypersensitivity reactions, and humoral antibody response to therapy. Drug cessation or the initiation of a corticosteroid regimen seems to be the most effective means of managing pericarditis in IBD due to drug therapy or an extraintestinal manifestation.

Mesalamine-Induced Myopericarditis: A Case Report and Literature Review

Inflammation of the myocardium (myocarditis) or pericardium (pericarditis) or both (myopericarditis) as side effects of mesalamine, a drug widely used in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, is a rare, but potentially lethal complication. We report a case of myopericarditis occurring in a young Caucasian woman 14 days following initiation of mesalamine therapy for treatment of a newly diagnosed ulcerative colitis (UC). She presented with pleuritic chest pain, elevated troponin levels and pre-syncope. The diagnosis of myopericarditis was made based on the clinical features, electrocardiogram (EKG) and cardiac magnetic resonance, which showed trace pericardial effusion. The patient’s symptom and condition were dramatically improved upon discontinuing mesalamine, and a full recovery was achieved. Mesalamine-induced inflammation of the myocardium (myocarditis) or pericardium (pericarditis) or both (myopericarditis) is rare, but has fatal side effects. Early recognition of these side effects by clinicians and patients is important to prevent progression of the inflammation. Furthermore, patients should be educated to seek urgent medical attention if cardiac symptoms arise.

Two Cases of Pericarditis Associated with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Extraintestinal manifestations are common complications of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) whereas the association of cardiac disease with IBD is rarely reported. Cardiac manifestations may be diagnosed before, concomitantly or after the diagnosis of the specific type of inflammatory bowel disease. Pericarditis and myocarditis are potentially serious complications. This extraintestinal manifestation developed in one patient concomitantly with onset of intestinal disease. One patient had ulcerative colitis (UC), while other had Crohn’s disease (CD). Indomethacin was effective in one and the other patient required prednisone in addition. Chest symptoms in patients with inflammatory bowel disease should be evaluated to exclude myopericardial disease.

Mesalamine-induced myopericarditis - A case report

Myopericarditis has occasionally been reported as a side effect of mesalamine in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. We present a 20-year-old woman with ulcerative colitis admitted with chest pain. After thorough investigation she was diagnosed with myopericarditis potentially related to mesalamine. There was complete clinical and laboratorial recovery following drug withdrawal. Although uncommon, the possibility of myopericarditis should be considered in patients with inflammatory bowel disease presenting with cardiac complaints. Early recognition can avoid potential life-threatening complications.

A large chronic pericardial effusion in an ultramarathon runner with anti-CCP positive rheumatoid arthritis

Pericardial effusions arise as an extra-articular manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Pericardial effusions are often asymptomatic, particularly in the early phase, but patients are at risk of cardiac tamponade as the effusion progresses. We discuss the case of a 40-year-old male ultramarathon runner with RA who presented with mild pleuritic chest pain and exertional dyspnoea after a recent long-haul flight. Despite a relative tachycardia, his observations were otherwise unremarkable. His blood tests revealed a C-reactive protein (CRP) of 86 mg/L and an anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) titre of 360 units/mL. He was initially diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism; however, a large pericardial effusion was found incidentally on CT pulmonary angiogram with over 1500 mL subsequently drained. The patient's symptoms resolved and CRP normalised 2 weeks later. This unique case illustrates that physically fit patients may physiologically compensate for large pericardial effusions and that arthritic symptoms do not correlate with the severity of extra-articular features in RA.

5-Aminosalicylic Acid-Associated Myocarditis and Pericarditis: A Narrative Review

BACKGROUND

Use of medications containing the 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) moiety may cause a rare but potentially lethal side effect involving inflammation of the heart (myocarditis) or pericardium (pericarditis) or both (myopericarditis). Early recognition of 5-ASA as the cause is important to prevent progression of the inflammation.

OBJECTIVE

To provide clinicians with information to assist in recognizing the signs and symptoms of 5-ASA-induced cardiac inflammation and the characteristics of the suspected therapy, and in determining the appropriate approach to treatment.

DATA SOURCES STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION

The Embase database was searched, for the period 1974 to July 17, 2015, for published descriptions of cases of cardiac inflammation caused by 5-ASA-containing medications. The search terms included the names of specific agents, as well as terms for different types of cardiac inflammation. Articles in any language were retained for inclusion in this narrative review.

FINDINGS

There is no symptom, sign, laboratory test, or constellation of symptoms and signs that is pathognomonic for 5-ASA-induced myocardial-pericardial toxicity. Similarly, there is no single laboratory, electrocardiographic, or echocardiographic finding or combination of findings that implicates 5-ASA as the cause of nonspecific symptoms. However, most patients present with chest pain, shortness of breath, and fever within the first 28 days after initiating 5-ASA. Physical examination, electrocardiography, and diagnostic imaging will yield findings consistent with myocarditis, with or without accompanying pericarditis. Prompt discontinuation of the 5-ASA will result in resolution of symptoms within days, without the need for any adjunctive therapies. Rechallenge with any 5-ASA-containing compound carries a high risk for recurrence of the inflammation.

CONCLUSIONS

Any patient presenting with chest pain, shortness of breath, or fever within 28 days after initiating a 5-ASA-containing drug should be considered as exhibiting drug-induced inflammation. The 5-ASA-containing drug should be stopped immediately until other causes can be proven (or excluded); if no other cause is discovered, the 5-ASA should not be restarted.

Evaluation of cardiac function by two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography in ulcerative colitis patients

PURPOSE

Although ulcerative colitis (UC) shows obvious similarities with other autoimmune diseases, cardiac consequences have not adequately introduced. The aim of our study was to evaluate left ventricular (LV) function in UC patients by using novel echocardiographic parameters.

RESULTS

Forty-five UC patients (mean age 37, 18 female) and 90 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers (mean age 40, 38 female) included in the study. The mean disease activity score according to partial Mayo score was 2.16 ± 2.13. Mean global longitudinal strain (GLS) and global longitudinal strain rate (GLSR) measurements were significantly lower (-21.16 ± 2.71 vs. -23.36 ± 3.34; p < 0.001 and -1.33 ± 0.24 vs. -1.43 ± 0.24; p = 0.037, respectively), whereas global circumferential (-22.67 ± 3.66 vs. -23.37 ± 3.99; p = 0.140) and global radial strain (43.07 ± 8.58 vs. 44.12 ± 9.32; p = 0.545) measurements of the LV were similar in patients with UC compared with controls. The correlation coefficient (r) between GLS and partial Mayo score was -0.578 (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Our study suggests that systolic cardiac deformation values are impaired in UC patients. Reduced GLS and GLSR might be an early indicator of cardiac involvement in this population.

A case of acute myocarditis as the initial presentation of Crohn's disease

We experienced a case of acute myocarditis as the initial presentation of Crohn's disease. A 19-year-old woman was admitted with impaired consciousness, shock, and respiratory failure. She had suffered from frequent diarrhea and abdominal pain for several years. Cardiac troponin I and creatine kinase-MB fraction levels were elevated to 5.32 and 16.66 ng/mL, respectively. A 12-lead electrocardiogram showed sinus tachycardia, and a chest radiograph revealed interstitial pulmonary edema. An echocardiogram showed dilated ventricles with akinesia of the basal to apical inferoseptal, anteroseptal, anterior, and inferior left ventricular walls and severely impaired systolic function. Intensive care with inotropic support was effective, and her clinical condition gradually improved. Two weeks later, a colonoscopy revealed ulceration with stenosis in the terminal ileum and multiple aphthous ulcers in the rectum. A biopsy of the rectum revealed non-caseating granulomatous inflammation. She was diagnosed with Crohn's disease presenting with acute myocarditis.

Chronic pericarditis and pericardial tamponade associated with ulcerative colitis

Unlike other extraintestinal inflammatory manifestations of ulcerative colitis, cardiac involvement is infrequently reported and inadequately characterized, with only 9 previously reported cases of pericardial tamponade associated with inflammatory bowel disease. A 32 year old male with ulcerative colitis, treated with orally administered mesalamine for ten years, developed chronic pericarditis. Extensive clinical and laboratory evaluation failed to find any cause of the pericarditis other than the ulcerative colitis. Although the pericarditis remitted with indomethacin therapy, this medicine had to be discontinued because of a reactivation of ulcerative colitis attributed to this nosteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID). The pericarditis then responded well to high-dose corticosteroid therapy, but the patient represented with chest pain, dyspnea, tachypnea, and engorged neck veins after tapering the corticosteroid therapy. Angiography revealed near equalization of end diastolic pressures in both ventricles, a finding consistent with pericardial tamponade. The patient underwent subtotal pericardiectomy. Thoracotomy revealed a thickened pericardial wall and a large pericardial effusion. The patient's symptoms resolved postpericardiectomy. This case extends the clinical spectrum of pericarditis associated with ulcerative colitis, by describing a case of pericarditis that was chronic, refractory to maintenance medical therapy, caused pericardial tamponade, and was successfully treated by pericardiectomy.

Drug-induced arthritic and connective tissue disorders

OBJECTIVES

All pharmacologic agents have the potential for both benefit and toxicity. Among the more interesting and important adverse consequences of drug therapy are a range of joint and connective tissue complaints that may mimic or reproduce primary rheumatologic diseases. In this article, we review the literature on commonly used drugs reported to induce arthritis and/or connective tissue-based diseases. We assess the strength of the reported associations, discuss diagnostic features and treatment implications, and consider possible mechanisms for drug-induced genesis of rheumatic conditions.

METHODS

We reviewed the Medline database from 1987 to 2006 to identify drug-induced arthritic and connective-tissue disease syndromes, utilizing 48 search terms. A qualitative review was performed after the articles were abstracted and the relevant information was organized.

RESULTS

Three hundred fifty-seven articles of possible relevance were identified. Two hundred eleven publications were included in the final analysis (case series and reports, clinical trials, and reviews). Many drugs were identified as mimicking existing rheumatic conditions, including both well-established small molecules (eg, sulfasalazine) and recently introduced biologic agents (eg, antitumor necrosis factor agents). The most commonly reported drug-induced rheumatic conditions were lupus-like syndromes. Arthritis and vasculitis were also often reported.

CONCLUSIONS

Drug-induced rheumatic syndromes are manifold and offer the clinician an opportunity to define an illness that may remit with discontinuation of the offending agent. Early diagnosis and withdrawal of the drug may prevent unnecessary morbidity and disability.

Sulfasalazine-induced pericarditis in a patient with ulcerative colitis without recurrence when switching to mesalazine

INTRODUCTION

Pericarditis is rarely reported in inflammatory bowel disease. Besides its common causes, pericarditis could be related to ulcerative colitis flare or to 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) treatment.

CASE REPORT

We report the case of a patient in whom fever, weight loss and pericarditis developed after 16 years of treatment with sulfasalazine for ulcerative colitis, after increasing the daily dosage from 1 to 3 g.

DISCUSSION

The patient recovered after treatment discontinuation and did not exhibit any recurrence of pericarditis when treatment with mesalazine was introduced.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, if pericarditis occurs in ulcerative colitis patients treated with 5-ASA compounds, the treatment should be considered as a possible cause, even after an increase of the dosage. In this case, discontinuation of the treatment and cautious switch to another 5-ASA compound should be tested.

Cardiac involvement in Crohn's disease: echocardiographic study

BACKGROUND

Crohn's Disease (CD) commonly presents extra-intestinal manifestations, but cardiac involvement is considered rare. The aim of the present study was to assess cardiac involvement in CD and its possible correlation with activity, duration, localization and therapy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A group of 68 patients with CD and a control group of 60 healthy subjects were subjected to a transthoracic echocardiogram with Doppler study.

RESULTS

The study found overall morphologic alterations in 47/68 CD patients (69.11%) versus 12/60 controls (20.0%; P < 0.01); mitral valve prolapse in 20/68 CD patients (29.4%) versus 4/60 controls (6.6%; P < 0.01); and pericardial effusion in 13/68 CD patients (19.1%)versus 1/60 controls (1.6%; P < 0.01). The following findings were frequent, but without statistical significance: mitral insufficiency, 9/68 CD (13.2%) versus 3/60 controls (5.0%); tricuspidalic insufficiency, 8/68 CD (11.7%) versus 3/60 controls (5%); aortic insufficiency, 3/68 CD (4.4%) versus none in the control group; and decreased left ventricle ejection fraction, 5/68 CD (7.3%) versus none in the control group. Pericardial effusion was found to be related to CD activity (r = 0.375; P = 0.002) as well as decreased ejection fraction (r = 0.358; P = 0.003). No correlation with age, sex, duration, therapy or localization of disease was found.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that CD frequently determines cardiac involvement, although it is usually subclinical. The alteration of cytokine network, especially the elevated levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, could be implicated in the cardiac alterations because it was observed, as for raised oxidative stress, in other heart diseases.

Crohn's disease post-cardiac transplantation presenting with severe growth failure and delayed onset of puberty

We report a 15 yr-old girl who 10 yr post-cardiac transplantation presented with severe growth failure and delayed onset of puberty. She was found to have pan-enteric Crohn's disease and has done remarkably well on principally nutritional therapy with a significant growth spurt and the onset of menarche. The development of bowel disease whilst on immunosuppression is rare and the literature is reviewed.

Drug-induced pleural disease

Drug-induced pleural disease is uncommon and less known to clinicians than drug-induced parenchymal lung disease. Pleural reactions from drugs manifest as pleural effusions, pleural thickening, or pleuritic chest pain, and may occur in the absence of parenchymal infiltrates. The clinician should be cognizant of the possibility of a drug-induced pleural reaction. A detailed drug history, temporal relationship between symptom onset and initiation of therapy, and pleural fluid eosinophilia should raise the suspicion of a drug-related process. We suspect that as new drugs are marketed in the United States, the number of drugs that result in pleuropulmonary toxicity will continue to increase. Moreover, if the cause of an exudative pleural effusion is not clinically obvious after pleural fluid analysis, drug therapy withdrawal should be a consideration if clinically appropriate before initiating an extensive diagnostic evaluation that may entail unnecessary economic burden and discomfort for the patient.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease After Age 60

New-onset idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is not uncommon among the elderly, although more common are colonic infection, ischemia, or neoplasia, all of which may mimic IBD. Although the clinical presentation of IBD in the elderly often resembles that of younger subjects, atypical manifestations are common and may lead to difficulty in diagnosis. Much progress has been made in both medical and surgical therapy for IBD, but such therapy poses additional challenges in the elderly, who are more likely to experience adverse effects of medications or complications of surgery. The elderly generally have a favorable outcome to both medical and surgical therapy for IBD. Although concern about possible untoward effects of therapy is warranted, treatment should not be withheld because of fear of complications.

Recurrent myopericarditis in association with Crohn's disease

Myopericarditis is a rare extraintestinal complication of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It has also been described as a side-effect of the treatment of IBD. We report a 37-year-old-woman with Crohn's disease who had several mild episodes of myopericarditis, two of which were associated with a pleural effusion, and two with conduction abnormalities in the atrioventricular node. During the last episode, a nodal rhythm was followed by a third-degree atrioventricular block and a prolonged pause, resulting in loss of consciousness and convulsions. A permanent pacemaker was implanted. Our patient is also human lymphocyte antigen (HLA) B27-positive. HLA B27 is known to be associated with conduction disturbances in the AV node. Recurrent myopericarditis can be a sign of IBD.

Role of mesalazine in acute and long-term treatment of ulcerative colitis and its complications

BACKGROUND

Sulfasalazine, consisting of 5-aminosalicylic acid bound to sulfapyridine by a diazo bond, was first used for treatment of ulcerative colitis in the early 1940s and later found effective in placebo-controlled trials for acute disease and for long-term maintenance of remission. Later studies found that the active moiety is 5-ASA (mesalazine, mesalamine) and the sulfapyridine moiety acts as a carrier molecule but causes many of the symptomatic adverse reactions.

METHODS

Review of the literature.

RESULTS

The finding that 5-ASA in the active motility led to the development of mesalazine prodrugs, olsalazine (Dipentum) and balsalazide (Colazide, Colazal), and targeted release mesalazine preparations, such as Asacol, Pentasa, and Salofalk, as well as enemas and suppository preparations for distal disease. Most patients with adverse effects from sulfasalazine will tolerate mesalazine. Mesalazine has been shown equivalent or superior to sulfasalazine, and superior to placebo, with a dose-response benefit, in inducing remission of acute disease. and comparable to sulfasalazine and superior to placebo for long-term maintenance of remission. Better tolerance of mesalazine and the ability to use higher doses favor its use in patients intolerant of sulfasalazine and in patients failing to respond to usual doses of sulfasalazine. Adverse effects from mesalazine are uncommon, but include idiosyncratic worsening of the colitis symptoms and renal toxicity. Mesalazine is safe to use during pregnancy and for nursing mothers. As maintenance therapy, mesalazine may reduce the risk of developing colorectal carcinoma.

CONCLUSION

Mesalazine represents effective and well-tolerated first-line therapy for mildly to moderately acute disease as well as for the long-term maintenance treatment in the patient with ulcerative colitis.

Extraintestinal manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease

Numerous extraintestinal diseases have been associated with IBD. The role of the gastrointestinal tract in host response to the foreign antigens present in the gut makes the enteric immune system highly susceptible to any external perturbation to the system. Dysregulation of the enteric immune response results in pathology in various organs outside of the gut. The site-specific manifestations of this immune response are not understood fully. Better understanding of the pathogenesis of IBD and the complex interactions between the gut immune system and the extraintestinal systems would provide insights into the development of many of these extraintestinal manifestations. Much is unknown about the presence of cardiac, pulmonary, and hematologic diseases in patients with IBD. True association or coincidental presence of the diseases in these organ systems with IBD requires better delineation. An important consideration in all patients with IBD presenting with extraintestinal manifestations should be a careful search for medication-related complications.

Constrictive pericarditis in chronic ulcerative colitis

Acute pericarditis has been described as an extraintestinal manifestation of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), as well as a consequence of IBD treatment, specifically sulfasalazine and mesalamine. Until now, there have been no reported cases of constrictive pericarditis associated with IBD or its treatment. A 37-year-old woman with a 24-year history of chronic ulcerative colitis (CUC) presented with a 3-month history of fevers, palpitations, dyspnea, syncope, and retrosternal chest pain. Two weeks before symptoms, she had initiated oral mesalamine for an ongoing CUC flare. Physical examination suggested constrictive pericarditis. An echocardiogram revealed a thickened pericardium with a nearly circumferential fibrinous effusion, with Doppler confirming diastolic compromise. The patient proceeded to radical pericardectomy. Pathological examination showed grossly hemorrhagic acute and chronic pericarditis, with cultures and cytology negative. To date, only 104 cases of IBD with acute pericarditis have been reported, with fewer than 10 cases of mesalamine-induced acute pericarditis reported. This is the first reported case of constrictive pericarditis related to IBD or its treatment. Although our patient may have had IBD-associated constrictive pericarditis, her mesalamine use raises the possibility of a drug-induced constrictive pericarditis.

Possible mesalamine-induced pericarditis: case report and literature review

Pericarditis should be considered in any patient complaining of chest pain and/or dyspnea who is taking a product that contains mesalamine or sulfasalazine. A 41-year-old woman was taking mesalamine 800 mg 3 times/day for 3 weeks before hospital admission. She complained of sharp, pleuritic chest pain that radiated down both arms and increased in intensity when lying down. She was diagnosed with pericarditis based on clinical presentation and electrocardiogram findings. Differential diagnoses for myocardial infarction, systemic lupus erythematosus, and viral or bacterial causes were ruled out based on subjective and objective data. Mesalamine-induced pericarditis was considered on hospital day 2, and the drug was discontinued at discharge on day 3. Clinicians should be aware of this potential drug-related complication, as the relationship between mesalamine or sulfasalazine and pericarditis has been reported rarely in the literature.

Pleuropericarditis and disseminated intravascular coagulation in ulcerative colitis

We report a 30-year-old woman with pleuropericarditis, cardiac tamponade, and disseminated intravascular coagulation complicating active ulcerative colitis (UC). Other autoimmune diseases were not present. She responded to pulsed steroid therapy and anticoagulant with resolution of the complication and UC. We reviewed the literature and found 27 cases of pleuropericarditis associated with idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It has been reported that pleuropericarditis associated with IBD responds well to nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, as well as steroids. The causes of cardiac involvement in IBD remain unclear, but the pleuropericarditis must be recognized as a potential extraintestinal manifestation of IBD.

Drugs and the pleura

PURPOSE

To identify the drugs associated with pleural disease and to review the clinical, radiographic, and pleural fluid findings that occur, the natural history of the pleural reaction, and the response to therapy.

DATA SOURCES

English-language articles published from January 1966 through April 1998 were identified through searches of the MEDLINE database, selective bibliographies, and personal files.

DATA EXTRACTION

Case reports, letters, and review articles were assessed for relevancy. Reports of drug-associated pleural effusion, pleuritis, and/or pleural thickening were analyzed. Drug effect was believed to be causal when exposure induced pleural disease, when the pleural response remitted on discontinuation of the drug, and when the pleural disease recurred with reexposure. Drug association was inferred when the pleural disease occurred following drug exposure and remitted after drug discontinuation. The incidence, clinical presentation, dose and duration of drug therapy, chest radiographic findings, pleural fluid analysis, and response to therapy were recorded.

CONCLUSIONS

A relatively small number of drugs were found to induce pleural disease when compared to the number of drugs implicated in causing disease of the lung parenchyma. Treatment of drug-induced pleural disease consists of drug therapy withdrawal and corticosteroids for refractory cases. Knowledge of the potential of drug-induced pleural disease will provide a clinical advantage to the physician and should lead to decreased morbidity and economic burden for the patient by avoidance of further diagnostic testing.

Severe symptomatic sinus bradycardia associated with mesalamine use

A 29-yr-old white woman was hospitalized with bloody diarrhea secondary to ulcerative colitis. Within 24 h of receiving intravenous steroids, loperamide, and mesalamine, she developed symptomatic hypotension, severe sinus bradycardia, sinus pauses, and junctional escape beats. The hypotension and sinus bradycardia resolved after discontinuing mesalamine. She had a family history of conduction tissue disease but her exercise ECG and Holter studies were normal. She was rehospitalized 6 wk later with an exacerbation of ulcerative colitis and, within 8 h of receiving mesalamine, developed hypotension and severe sinus bradycardia, which resolved after stopping mesalamine. Thus mesalamine should be used with caution, especially in patients predisposed to cardiac conduction tissue disease.