Ascites due to constrictive pericarditis

We report a case in which ascites revealed chronic constrictive pericarditis (CCP) of tuberculous origin. A 65 year-old man had developed ascites the past over few weeks and oedema of the lower limbs. Treatment was surgical and consisted in pericardiectomy. Chronic constrictive pericarditis has become rare in industrialised countries with the reduction in the incidence of tuberculosis. Currently, its principle aetiologies identified are previous cardiac surgery and radiotherapy. Treatment is usually surgical and gives excellent results. This clinical case clearly illustrates the interest of systematic biological analysis of ascites, since it may reveal a curable disease.