Pericardial Effusion and Tamponade Complicating Acute Pericarditis in a Human Metapneumovirus-Infected Adult: A Unique Case Report

Abstract

Acute pericarditis (AP), or pericardial sac inflammation, is a self-limited condition in healthy individuals. Viruses, including adenoviruses, enteroviruses, cytomegalovirus, and influenza virus, have been well documented to cause AP. In contrast, human metapneumovirus (hMPV), a relatively newer virus, has been described in a few cases to cause serious cardiac complications. Here we report a patient who developed an imminent cardiac tamponade associated with hMVP respiratory infection.