Cholesterol crystals in pericardic fluid

Authors

  • Marta Capilla Díez , Facultativo Especialista en Análisis Clínicos. Servicio de Análisis Clínicos. Hospital Universitario Río Hortega, Valladolid https://orcid.org/0009-0002-5292-1998
  • María Lorena Navas Gómez , FIR. Servicio de Análisis Clínicos. Hospital Universitario Río Hortega, Valladolid https://orcid.org/0009-0006-0962-206X
  • Patricia Ramos Mayordomo , FIR. Servicio de Análisis Clínicos. Hospital Universitario Río Hortega, Valladolid https://orcid.org/0009-0009-5447-3384

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24197/cl.29.2024.70-71

Keywords:

Effusion, Cholesterol, Pericardic, Laboratory

Abstract

Cholesterol pericarditis is quite rare, with the majority of cases being idiopathic and the rest related to chronic renal failure, hypothyroidism, tuberculosis, rheumatoid arthritis, heart failure, myocardial infarction, metastatic carcinomas and polycystic kidney disease. It may present subclinically or with nonspecific manifestations. It will rarely cause constrictive pericarditis or cardiac tamponade. The age of presentation is between 17-68 years in both genders.

We present a case of chronic pericardial effusion with cholesterol crystals as an incidental finding in the absence of underlying pathologies. The analysis of the pericardial fluid by the clinical laboratory is described, along with the images observed under the optical microscope. We highlight the importance of carrying out a complete biochemical study for an adequate classification of the fluid and thus help in the diagnosis.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

(1) Edroso P.E, Rodríguez A, Salvador J.M, Pericarditis idiopática por cristales de colesterol, Med Intensiva, 2019;43(8):519-520.

(2) Álvarez F.V, Líquidos biológicos: actualización del análisis en el laboratorio, 2010.

(3) Díaz J, Gimbert E.M, Alonso M.C, Moreno M.J, Andreu L, Cristales de colesterol en líquido pericárdico, An Clin, 2003;28(1):23-29.

(4) Jiménez A, Montes P.M, Vitoria Y, Rodrigo D, Subinas J, Barrenetxea J.I, Pericarditis con cristales de colesterol, Rev Esp Cardiol, 2001; 54: 1119-1120.

- Camprubí M, Mercéa J, Raventósb A, Constricción pericárdica secundaria a pericarditis por colesterol, Rev Esp Cardiol, 2006;59(3):289-91.

Downloads

Published

2024-10-10

Issue

No. 29 (2024): CLINICA

Section

Imágenes/Infografías

License

Copyright (c) 2024 Marta Capilla Díez, María Lorena Navas Gómez, Patricia Ramos Mayordomo

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

The articles published at Clínica will have a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).

The journal allows the authors to retain publishing rights. Authors may reprint their articles in other media without having to request authorization, provided they indicate that the article was originally published in Clínica.