Yellow Nail Syndrome Associated with Pericarditis and Pericardial Effusion: a Case Report.

Yellow nail syndrome (YNS) is an uncommon condition characterized by nail changes, lymphedema, in addition to pulmonary disorders and pleural effusion. Pericarditis and non-cardiac disorders can evolve with pericardial effusions including autoimmune conditions, hypothyroidism, malignancies, tuberculosis, and uremia. A 72-year-old Brazilian woman under treatment for arterial hypertension and hypothyroidism was admitted with pericarditis and pericardial effusion concomitant with yellow nail syndrome. She denied tobacco smoking, alcohol abuse, and similar disorders in her family. Clinical and complementary evaluation ruled out infectious diseases, malignancies, and autoimmune disorders as etiologic factors in this case. Hypothyroidism is a well-known cause of pericardial effusion, the vast majority in the absence of pericarditis, and has been described as an associated condition in some individuals with YNS. Case studies might contribute to better understanding of these causal or casual relationships.

Anicteric leptospirosis with pneumonitis, pericarditis and acalculous cholecystitis.

We report the case of a 19-year-old male patient admitted to hospital with fever, asthenia, vomiting, abdominal and chest pains, cough with yellowish sputum, and hypotension. Laboratory tests showed leukocytosis and high creatine phosphokinase levels, without hyperbilirubinaemia or renal failure. The tomographic images of the chest and abdomen showed a right basal pneumonia and acalculous cholecystitis. The electrocardiograms revealed significant characteristics of acute pericarditis. Specific serology for leptospirosis done in the second and third weeks of disease showed positive results. The use of ceftriaxone 1g intravenously, twice a day for 7 days, resulted in an overall clinic improvement. The role of the suspicion index for diagnosis of leptospirosis is emphasized in anicteric patients, as well as the unsuspected possibility of pulmonary, pericardial and gallbladder involvement.