Pericarditis associated with longstanding mesalazine administration in a patient

An adult male patient was admitted for a pericardial effusion occurring dup ing a longstanding mesalazine treatment for Crohn's disease. The relation b etween the drug's administration, symptoms and ECG changes suggests that th e pericardial injury was caused by mesalazine. Also, the rapid resolution o f clinical signs and ECC changes following the drug withdrawal were in agre ement with this hypothesis. Eight months later, the patient remains well an d symptom-free, and ECG and echocardiographic control were normal. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.