HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Personal Folders Download to citation manager Author home page(s): Reuven Rabinovici Permission Requests Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Rabinovici, R. Articles by Sivalingam, J. J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Rabinovici, R. Articles by Sivalingam, J. J.

Ann Thorac Surg 1997;63:1200-1204
© 1997 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

---

Current Review

Candida Pericarditis: Clinical Profile and Treatment

Department of Surgery and Division of Infectious Diseases, Jefferson Medical College; and Division of Gastroenterology, John F. Kennedy Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Background. Candida pericarditis is a rare medical and surgical emergency which, unless treated, leads to impaired cardiac function and death. To facilitate early diagnosis, the clinical features of this condition should be identified.

Methods. Twenty-five cases of Candida pericarditis reported in the last 30 years along with 1 new case were reviewed with regard to demographics, precipitating factors, diagnosis, treatment, and outcome.

Results. The syndrome occurred in immunocompromised (73%), antibiotic-treated (62%), or postpericardiotomy (54%) patients. The clinical presentation was frequently subtle and nonspecific. Nevertheless, unexplained fever, an increasing cardiac shadow on chest roentgenogram, or the development of cardiac tamponade may be suggestive. Positive culture for Candida in pericardial fluid or histologic evidence of yeast forms in pericardial tissue establishes the diagnosis. A combination of pericardiocentesis followed by operative drainage and antifungal agents is the usual treatment. Untreated, Candida pericarditis is 100% lethal, whereas prompt diagnosis and treatment lead to cure (mean follow-up, 19 months).

Conclusions. Fever and evolving cardiac tamponade in immunocompromised or postpericardiotomy patients may be suggestive of Candida pericarditis; the presence of organisms in pericardial fluid is diagnostic. Pericardiocentesis followed by operative drainage and antifungal agents appears to be the treatment that is most likely to be curative.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				Task Force members, B. Maisch, P. M. Seferovic, A. D. Ristic, R. Erbel, R. Rienmuller, Y. Adler, W. Z. Tomkowski, G. Thiene, M. H. Yacoub, et al. Guidelines on the Diagnosis and Management of Pericardial Diseases Executive Summary: The Task Force on the Diagnosis and Management of Pericardial Diseases of the European Society of Cardiology Eur. Heart J., April 1, 2004; 25(7): 587 - 610. [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. K. Kok, M. Y. Chu, Y. K. Wong, F. C. Lee, V. K. Kok, M. Y. Chu, Y. K. Wong, and F. C. Lee Successful Treatment of Candida Pericarditis Following Sternotomy Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann, December 1, 2000; 8(4): 384 - 386. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]