A Diagnostic Conundrum in a Newly Diagnosed Ulcerative Colitis Patient Who Presented with Pleuropericardial Effusion

Abstract

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting mainly the colon and presenting with diarrhea, bloody defecation andabdominal pain. Although cardiac and/or pulmonary involvement has been reported in patients with ulcerative colitis, it rarelyinvolves both the pleura and pericardium at the same time. Also, it is difficult to determine whether pulmonary or cardiac diseaseis secondary to the ulcerative colitis drugs or to the underlying disease process. Here we present a rare case of pleuropericardialeffusion in a patient newly diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. In ulcerative colitis, the simultaneous involvement of the respiratoryand cardiovascular systems is uncommon yet potentially dangerous.

Keywords

• pleuropericardial effusion
• ulcerative colitis
• mesalazine