Pericardial effusion complicating psittacosis infection

Chlamydial infections of the heart

Chlamydiae are common human pathogens, causing a broad spectrum of infectious diseases. Chlamydial infections involving the heart have been described in numerous previous reports. These organisms are documented to cause endocarditis, myocarditis and pericarditis. Furthermore, Chlamydia pneumoniae, the recently discovered respiratory pathogen, has also been implicated in coronary artery disease. For the first time the literature on involvement of the heart in chlamydial infections is reviewed. Information on the discovery of Chlamydia species is also included and the problem of the species determination of Chlamydia in interpretation of the older literature is mentioned.

A progressive pericardial effusion caused by psittacosis

A patient developed signs of a progressive pericardial effusion over a period of eight days. Diagnostic and therapeutic pericardiocentesis was performed. Viral titres to psittacosis rose from less than 1:8 to greater than 1:256 indicating recent infection.

Psittacosis

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