A 30-year-old female Behçet's disease patient with recurrent pleural and pericardial effusion and elevated adenosine deaminase levels: case report

Rare paediatric cardiopulmonary presentation of Behcet's disease

This case discusses a 10-year-old boy who presented in significant respiratory distress with cardiac tamponade with associated gross ascites and hepatomegaly, requiring urgent transfer for pericardiocentesis. On further investigation, he was found to have multiple pulmonary emboli and evidence of panserositis. An underlying rheumatological cause was suspected in the absence of any evidence of infection or malignancy, and blood tests were positive for anti-double stranded DNA, anticardiolipin and antiglycoprotein antibodies as well as HLA B51. In his medical history, he has previously had mouth ulcers, chronic anaemia of undetermined cause and erythema multiforme. These symptoms, along with clinical presentation, mean a diagnosis of Behcet's disease and associated antiphospholipid syndrome was felt to be most likely. Anticoagulation therapy was commenced for treatment of the emboli, and colchicine was started for management of Behcet's disease. The patient was discharged clinically well from the hospital and continues under specialist rheumatological and haematological follow-up.