Pleuropericardial reaction to treatment with dantrolene
M. L. Petusevsky, L. J. Faling, R. E. Rocklin, G. L. Snider, A. D. Merliss, J. M. Moses and S. A. Dorman
Chronic pleural effusion occurred in three patients, one of whom also
developed acute pericarditis. A fourth patient developed both pleural and
pericardial effusions. All patients had been receiving dantrolene sodium
for at least two months. The pleural fluid was a sterile exudate with
pleural and peripheral blood eosinophilia in all patients. No pulmonary
parenchymal involvement was apparent. Pleural biopsy specimens showed
nonspecific inflammation. Resolution of the pleural process was prolonged
after dantrolene therapy was discontinued. Although a causal relationship
between dantrolene and serosal inflammation remains unproved, this
association in four patients warrants careful observation of others
receiving long-term dantrolene therapy.
