Unmasking a Rare Case of Long-Standing Minimal Pericardial Effusion in Dermatomyositis.

ABSTRACT

We report an extremely rare case of long-standing (> six months) minimal pericardial effusion attributed to dermatomyositis. The patient was inadvertently administered antitubercular drug therapy for three months after which the patient developed significant weight loss, extreme anorexia, nausea, and vomiting refractory to conventional management. The key message in the manuscript is that even indolent dermatomyositis can present solely as an unexplained pericardial effusion in an individual.