Hemorrhagic Pericardial Effusion with Tamponade: A Rare Adverse Effect of Infliximab—Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract

Introduction. Antitumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha agents are commonly used biologic therapies for a wide variety of rheumatic and inflammatory diseases. Here, we present a case of hemorrhagic pericarditis as a consequence of infliximab and review the literature on pericardial complications stemming from this drug class. Methods. For the literature review, search terms using versions of antitumor necrosis factor alpha AND pericardial effusion OR pericarditis OR pleuropericarditis OR cardiac tamponade were used. Results. Pericarditis is a rare but serious complication of anti-TNF based therapy, and hemorrhagic fluid is even more rare, with only one additional case reported. It is likely that this complication was secondary to a robust immune response to very high titer anti-infliximab antibodies. Providers should be aware that this complication can occur and that abnormal elevations in procalcitonin may accompany this unusual finding