A case of liver cirrhosis and Chilaiditi syndrome with atypical pneumonitis

Abstract

Respiratory distress is very uncommon as a presenting symptom of Chilaiditi syndrome. Furthermore, pneumonia is not documented with the syndrome, compromising further to the distress. We describe a middle-aged man, chronic alcoholic, recently diagnosed with liver cirrhosis, presented with a 1-year history of slowly progressive breathlessness. Recently, he developed mild-to-moderate hemoptysis and cough with aggravation of breathlessness. He did not have fever, chest pain, or orthopnea. He was cyanosed, requiring high-dose oxygen therapy. Later on, he stabilized with noninvasive ventilation. Chest imagings showed incidental Chilaiditi sign, liver cirrhosis, and atypical pneumonitis. With empirical antibiotics and high-dose steroid, he recovered completely but with baseline breathlessness. Here, we outline Chilaiditi syndrome as a rare association or manifestation of liver cirrhosis, and it can present with a respiratory compromise by both obstructive lung disease and atypical interstitial pneumonia. Early identification, vaccinations against common organisms, and possible early surgery may prevent morbidity and mortality of this type of patients.

Keywords

• Chilaiditi sign
• chronic liver disease
• obstructive lung disease
• pneumonia