Cardiac tamponade in association with anorexia nervosa: A case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a complex psychiatric disorder that (Cardiol J 2012; 19, 6: 635-638)

Cardiovascular complications of anorexia nervosa: A systematic review

“…Importantly, resolution of effusion occurred in 88%. To our knowledge only one case in the literature describes the development of acute cardiac tamponade in anorexia nervosa, though another case which required pericardiocentesis has been reported . We conclude that pericardial effusion is generally a reversible, asymptomatic marker of disease severity.…”

Cardiac changes in anorexia nervosa

“…29,33 It is almost always silent, and refeeding leads to remission, but the temporal course has not yet been elucidated. 29,73 There have been two cases reported in the literature of cardiac tamponade in anorexia nervosa requiring surgical intervention by pericardiocentesis 76 or creation of a surgical window 77 and two other cases where pericardiocentesis was performed pre-emptively because of the risk of imminent tamponade. 78 Predicting patients with anorexia nervosa who are most at risk for pericardial effusion has proven to be difficult.…”

Anorexia nervosa – medical complications

“…Factors which may correlate with pericardial effusion in this patient population include low BMI, rapid weight loss, low T 3 levels, and IGF-1 levels [ 57 ]. Most patients show resolution of the effusion after weight restoration without further intervention necessary; however, there are case reports of cardiac tamponade and the rare need for urgent pericardiocentesis for prevention thereof [ 58 , 59 ].…”