A modern cause of an old disease. Constrictive pericarditis after percutaneous coronary intervention: a case report.

A 70-year-old patient developed severe constrictive pericarditis with exertional dyspnea, lethargy and marked peripheral edema four months after percutaneous coronary intervention for acute coronary syndrome. The diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis was confirmed by cardiac catheterization and computed tomography. Despite the short duration of the disease, the pericardium showed fibrosis and had a thickness of approximately 6 mm. The patient underwent pericardiectomy, with a satisfactory outcome. Hemopericardium due to coronary microperforation was suspected to be responsible for the development of constrictive pericarditis. This unusual mid-term complication of percutaneous coronary intervention has rarely been reported and should be suspected in this particular clinical setting.