13 patients, 5(38,46%) men and 8 (61,53%) women with the diagnosis of Purulent Pericarditis were studied from January 1977 to December 1987. The age varied between 9 months and 43 years old, and 11 (84,61%) were under 16.  The criteria for inclusion were: (1) Suggestive clinical presentation, (2) Electrocardiogram abnormalities, (3) Cardiomegaly on chest X rays, (4) echocardiogram revealing pericardial fluid, (5) bacteriologically proven infection (Blood culture, pericardial fluid and other sources), (6) Septicemia, (7) typical findings on pathologic examination of pericardial tissue, obtained by surgery.  The most frequent clinical symptoms were dyspnea (100%), fever (92,30%), and cough (53,84%). Hepatomegaly (92,30%), pericardial friction rub (76,92%), jugular vein distention (61,53%), were the most frequent signs.  Electrocardiographic features were: Sinus tachycardia 1...

13 patients, 5(38,46%) men and 8 (61,53%) women with the diagnosis of Purulent Pericarditis were studied from January 1977 to December 1987. The age varied between 9 months and 43 years old, and 11 (84,61%) were under 16.  The criteria for inclusion were: (1) Suggestive clinical presentation, (2) Electrocardiogram abnormalities, (3) Cardiomegaly on chest X rays, (4) echocardiogram revealing pericardial fluid, (5) bacteriologically proven infection (Blood culture, pericardial fluid and other sources), (6) Septicemia, (7) typical findings on pathologic examination of pericardial tissue, obtained by surgery.  The most frequent clinical symptoms were dyspnea (100%), fever (92,30%), and cough (53,84%). Hepatomegaly (92,30%), pericardial friction rub (76,92%), jugular vein distention (61,53%), were the most frequent signs.  Electrocardiographic features were: Sinus tachycardia 1...

Objetivo: Determinar la frecuencia de presentación de la Pericarditis Lúpica (PL) en el paciente con Lupus Eritematoso Sistémico (LES), en relación a las pericarditis en general y determinar las caracteristicas clínicas, electrocardiográficas, radiográficas y ecocardiográficas de la PL, y su tratamiento. Material y métodos: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo en el que se evaluaron retrospectivamente 16 pacientes portadores de LES y pericarditis, atendidos en el Hospital Nacional Cayetano Heredia (HNCH), entre 1985 y 1995. Resultados: Se encontraron 15 pacientes mujeres y 1 varón; los síntomas y signos más frecuentes fueron: disnea de esfuerzo, fatiga, dolor precordial y edemas. El electrocardiograma mostró signos de pericarditis en 11 pacientes, en todos los casos la radiografía de tórax mostró cardiomegalia y en 15 pacientes la ecocardiografía confirmó el derram...