Pericardial effusion in an Indian context: clinical insights and dynamics from a tertiary care centre

Chronic kidney disease, closely followed by infections (mostly tuberculosis), are the frequent causes of PE in the present settings. Breathlessness is the most frequent clinical feature in the patients of PE. Fibrin strands, thickened pericardium, thickened fluid in Echocardiography assists in diagnosing tubercular pericardial effusion. Cardiomegaly in chest X-ray or CT scans should further prompt towards diagnosing pericardial effusion. It is essential to incorporate these findings into the clinical practice, by evaluating the patients presenting with breathlessness for PE. CKD needs to be placed on par with tuberculosis while suspecting the etiology of the PE in the present settings. ADA levels in pericardial fluid (> 40) can be considered as a specific marker for tubercular PE.