Successful treatment of a patient with primary Sjögren's syndrome complicated with pericarditis during pregnancy

Intern Med. 2007;46(14):1143-7. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.46.0062. Epub 2007 Jul 17.

Abstract

A 35-year-old woman with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) developed fever and chest pain during pregnancy. When the dose of prednisolone was reduced, she experienced chest pain with elevated CRP and D-dimer, resulting in admission to our hospital with marked cardiomegaly and pleural effusion. Because there was no evidence of other autoimmune disorders or infection, oral prednisolone was increased to 30 mg daily with heparin, and hypercoagulopathy was carefully monitored. The patient's condition improved rapidly, and she delivered a healthy baby. This is the first case to support the beneficial effect of prednisolone in pericarditis with pSS, and illustrates its safety during pregnancy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • Glucocorticoids / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Pericarditis / complications*
  • Pericarditis / diagnosis
  • Pericarditis / therapy*
  • Prednisolone / therapeutic use
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications / diagnosis
  • Pregnancy Complications / therapy*
  • Pregnancy Outcome
  • Sjogren's Syndrome / complications*
  • Sjogren's Syndrome / diagnosis
  • Sjogren's Syndrome / therapy*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Glucocorticoids
  • Prednisolone