Abstract

DIESTEL-BAUTISTA, Tania Leticia  and  CHINO-FLORES, Javier. Myxedema with cardiac tamponade due to massive pericardial effusion with cholesterol crystals. Case report. Cardiovasc. metab. sci [online]. 2019, vol.30, n.1, pp.38-41.  Epub Aug 12, 2024. ISSN 2954-3835.

The association between pericardial effusion and cholesterol crystals in patients with hypothyroidism has rarely been observed; the first report dates from 1919, J.S. Alexander presented the case of a 32-year-old English man with hypothyroidism, pericardial effusion and heart failure; the drained pericardial fluid described it as «golden paint», the laboratory study showed large amounts of cholesterol crystals. We present the case of a 61-year-old hispanic man who presented cardiorespiratory arrest during the postoperative period of elective surgery. Cardiorespiratory arrest was attributed to cardiac tamponade due to massive pericardial effusion (PE). During the PE study, pericardiocentesis was performed obtaining 1,800 milliliters of liquid with the appearance of «golden paint». The microscopic study of the liquid obtained showed cholesterol crystals and the cytochemical study had exudate characteristics.

Keywords : Pericardial effusion; cardiac tamponade; myxedema; cholesterol crystals.

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