Isolated Pleural and Pericardial Effusion in a Patient with Ankylosing Spondylitis

Abstract

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic seronegative spondyloarthritis with the major histocompatibility antigen HLA B27. Pulmonary involvement in AS is rare and is usually in the form of upper lobe fibrocavitary disease. Herein, we present a case with recurrent pleural and pericardial effusion without apical fibrobullous disease who responded to prednisolone treatment well. It is believed that this is the first case report complicating AS without parenchymal involvement in the literature. © 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.