PERICARDIAL-EFFUSION AND PERICARDIOCENTESIS IN HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS INFECTION

HIV infection is common in patients undergoing pericardiocentesis in urban settings. The diagnostic use of pericardiocentesis in this population has been questioned16; in our experience the yield of pericardiocentesis was 36% (5 of 14 subjects). Most strikingly, the procedure provided unexpected diagnostic information with clinical management implications. The total lack of concordance between infections in other organ systems and in the pericardium underscores the need for caution when making assumptions about the etiology of pericardial effusion in HIV infection. © 1994.