An unexpected cause of right heart strain

Abstract

A 27-year-old woman was referred from her general practitioner (GP) 6 weeks postpartum with weight loss, dyspnoea and bilateral leg swelling. She had been treated by the GP for a chest infection the week before. On admission she was tachycardic, hypotensive and hypoxic with bilateral leg oedema and bibasal crackles. A chest radiograph showed diffuse multinodular opacification. A CT pulmonary angiogram showed dilated pulmonary artery. Echocardiogram confirmed right ventricular strain and dilation. Sputum microscopy was positive for acid-fast bacilli. The patient developed confusion and low-grade fever and the CT head scan showed meningeal involvement. One year of antituberculous therapy was started and she made a clinical recovery after 10 days and was discharged with regular follow-up. An echocardiogram showed resolution of the right heart strain 4 months later. Copyright 2013 BMJ Publishing Group. All rights reserved.