Acute Myopericarditis with Severe Pericardial Effusion Associated with Dengue Infection
Keywords:
dengue; myopericarditis; pericarditis; pericardial effusion; cardiac tamponade.Abstract
Introduction: Dengue can cause uncommon cardiovascular complications, including myocarditis, pericarditis, and, on rare occasions, a concomitant presentation of both.
Case report: We report the case of a 27-year-old postpartum woman, following an emergency cesarean section for severe preeclampsia, with confirmed dengue infection. During hospitalization, she developed myopericarditis with severe pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade, as well as second-degree atrioventricular block. She required pericardiotomy with drainage and anti-inflammatory treatment, showing a favorable clinical outcome.
Conclusions: Pericardial effusion and myopericarditis are rare complications of dengue, with few cases described in the literature. Their pathophysiology involves cytokine-mediated inflammation, myocardial injury, and serositis. Factors such as obesity and pregnancy may have contributed to the severity of the clinical picture. This case highlights the need for close clinical monitoring and timely diagnosis of cardiovascular involvement in dengue, as early detection enables specific interventions that reduce morbidity and mortality.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Mara Gómez-Zambrano , Andres David Sastre Martinez, Valeria Granados-Duque, Natalia Granados-Duque, Oswaldo Enrique Aguilar-Molina
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