Chemotherapy-induced pericarditis has been reported in a limited number of case series. Furthermore, the management of acute pericarditis associated with chemotherapy is not standardized. In a few case reports, pericarditis associated with chemotherapy has been treated with pericardiocentesis or anti-inflammatory drugs such as steroid or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Recently, colchicine was introduced as an effective tool in order to manage idiopathic recurrent pericarditis. However, the effectiveness of colchicine in chemotherapy-induced pericarditis has never been reported. We report a case of recurrent pericarditis associated with chemotherapy, which was successfully treated with colchicine and ibuprofen. We maintained colchicine when the patient required repeated chemotherapy for relapsed leukemia. And the concomitant use of colchicine prevented the patient from the full development of acute pericarditis. Colchicine may be effective in the treatment and prevention not only of idiopathic recurrent pericarditis but also of acute pericarditis associated with chemotherapy as in this case.

Keywords:
Pericarditis, Chemotherapy, Acute myeloid leukemia, Colchicine
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© 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel
2011
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