Campylobacter jejuni Pericarditis: A Case Report

• Main Author: Neves-Maia, Joao
• Publication Date: 2022
• Other Authors: Gomes, Catarina, Marinho, António, Alves, Rute
• Format: Article
• Language: eng
• Source: Repositórios Científicos de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (RCAAP)
• Download full: https://www.actamedicaportuguesa.com/revista/index.php/amp/article/view/17251
• topic: Agammaglobulinemia; Campylobacter Infections; Campylobacter jejuni; Pericarditis; Agamaglobulinemia; Campylobacter jejuni; Infecções por Campylobacter; Pericardite

Campylobacter jejuni is one of the most common causes of enteritis. In rare cases, extraintestinal infection can occur, with a handful of cases of cardiac involvement, of which the pathophysiological mechanism is unclear. We report a case of pericarditis in a patient with X-linked agammaglobulinemia presenting with chronic diarrhea and chest pain who evolved to cardiac tamponade, requiring a pericardial window and a long course of broad-spectrum antibiotics. To the best of our knowledge, this is the third case of pericarditis caused by Campylobacter jejuni reported in the literature, the second in a patient with X-linked agammaglobulinemia. Despite its rarity, this case serves as a reminder of Campylobacter as a potential cause of cardiac inflammation for clinicians treating pericarditis/myocarditis, especially in patients with a history of diarrhea or immunosuppression.