Recurrent
pleural effusions are relatively uncommon and as clinicians we keep
drug induced
pleural effusion lower in our list of differentials.
Pramipexole induced recurrent
pleural effusion can be
life threatening if not recognized early and has been reported in
literature only a few times. A 44 years old man with
history of
traumatic brain injury presented with
pneumonitis and p leural effusion which was tapped.
Patient returned with
pleural effusion within 2 weeks and a careful
analysis of all the
risk factor and
drugs revealed that the most likely
etiology was chronic use of
Pramipexole leading to recurrent
pleural effusion and early
pulmonary fibrosis.
Pramipexole induced recurrent
pleural effusion can cause significant
morbidity and should be recognized early.
Physician prescribing this medication should be aware of this rare side effect of the medication