Objective To formulate an evidence-based treatment for a patient with pulmonary tuberculosis combined with tuberculous meningitis and tuberculous pericarditis. Methods According to the principles of evidencebased clinical practice, we searched The Cochrane Library (Issue 2, 2008), Ovid-Reviews (1991 to 2008), MEDLINE (1950 to 2008), and http://www.guideline.org. to identify the best evidence for treating a patient with pulmonary tuberculosis combined with tuberculous meningitis and tuberculous pericarditis. Results Nine guidelines, 2 systematic reviews, and 11 randomized controlled trials were included. The evidence showed that corticosteroids could help reduce the risk of death and disabling residual neurological deficiencies in patients with tuberculous meningitis. After adjusting for age and gender, the overall death rate of patients with tuberculous pericarditis was significantly reduced by prednisolone (P=0.044), as well as the risk of death from pericarditis (P=0.004). But for patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, there was still a controversy about the use of corticosteroids. Given the evidence, the patient’s clinical conditions, and his preferences, dexamethasone was used for the boy in question. After 7 weeks of treatment, his cerebrospinal fluid returned to normal and pericardial effusion disappeared. Conclusion Corticosteroids should be recommended in HIV-negative people with tuberculous meningitis or/and tuberculous pericarditis. The difference in the effectiveness of various corticosteroids such as dexamethasone, prednisolone, or methylprednisolone and the optimal duration of corticosteroid therapy is still unknown.
Objective To explore the changes and effect of plasma renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and nitric oxide (NO) in rabbits pericarditis. Methods Twenty-one male rabbits were divided into two groups randomly. Experimental group: 11 rabbits were injected 40% urea (2ml/kg) into pericardial cavity, control group: 10 rabbits were injected 0.9% natrium chloride into the pericardial cavity . The concentration of plasma renin active (RA), angiotensin Ⅱ(ANGⅡ) and NO were measured before operation and after operation 1,4,7,10,15,21 days. The histopathological changes of pericardium, myocardium, lung and liver were observed in the adopted specimens. Results The concentration of plasma RA, ANGⅡ and NO in experimental group increased after operation and significantly increased at 7 to 21 day compared with those in control group (Plt;0.01). In the experimental group, there were proliferation and thickening of pericardium, myocardial degeration, pulmonary ecchymosis and hepatic ecchymosis. Conclusion The concentration of plasma RAS and NO is increased in rabbits with pericarditis, plasma NO rejects the roles of RAS, NO and RAS lead to organs injury of pericardium, myocardium, lung, liver and so on.
Objective To estimate the relationship of methods and drugs for management of constrictive pericarditis during pericardiectomy. Methods We reviewed the records of 45 patients (mean age, 40.24±15.34 years) with a diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis who underwent pericardiectomy in our hospital from 2012 through 2014 year. During operation, inotropic agents, vasodilators and diuretics were used. According to the diuretics, patients were divided into two groups including a furosemide group(group F) with 38 patients and a lyophilized recombinant human brain natriuretic peptide (lrhBNP) group with 7 patients(group B). Results Preoperatively, 30 patients were pulmonary congestion, which was diagnosed by chest radiographs. Pericardiectomy was finished by off pump in 43 patients. Another 2 patients required cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) for pericardiectomy. In the group F 52.6% of the patients needed vasodilators to reduce cardiac preloading following pericardiectomy. None of other vasodilators were used in the group B. After pericardiectomy, the fluctuation of systolic and diastolic pressure decreased significantly in the group B (P=0.01, respectively). In the group F, the fluctuation of diastolic pressure decreased significantly (P＜0.05). Low cardiac output was the most common postoperative problem. One patient accepted postoperative extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support. Postoperative poor renal function was found in 42.2% of the patients. Three of them needed hemofiltration. Postoperative poor renal function accompanied by poor hepatic function was found in 15.6% of the patients. One of them used dialysis and artificial liver. Three patients were respiratory failure with longer mechanical ventilation and tracheotomy. The overall perioperative mortality rate was 6.7% (3 patients). All patients, who died or used with hemofiltration, artificial liver and ECMO were found in the group F. Conclusion More stable haemodynamics after pericardiectomy may occur with using lrhBNP. lrhBNP may reduce postoperative major morbidity and mortality. Because of the small group using lrhBNP in our study, more patients using lrhBNP for pericardiectomy need to be studied.