Frequenza ed evoluzione della pericardite acuta benigna in talassemici major

ACUTE PERICARDITIS IN COOLEY DISEASE Two patients affected by Cooley disease (beta-Thalassemia) underwent an acute upper respiratory tract infection. In both cases the illness was complicated by acute pericarditis, revealed by echocardiographic examination. The relatively high incidence of “non specific” acute pericarditis as a possible complicance of Cooley Disease is pointed out. This had been already stated by Engle in 1961. Echocardiography provides an useful key to recognition of mild attacks of pericarditis, that would be otherwise misdiagnosed.