PEDIATRIC ASTHMA, ALLERGY & IMMUNOLOGY Volume 4, Number 4, 1990 Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., Publishers Recurrent Pericardial Effusion in a Boy with Common Variable Immunodeficiency 2ELJKA REINER-BANOVAC, M.D., IVO BARIC, M.D., EVA VERONA, M.D., and TANJA LUKANOVlC, M.D. ABSTRACT A boy with common variable immunodeficiency experienced in his fifth year of life pericardial effusion on two separate occasions. The first effusion was probably due to the infection, whereas the second one remained of unknown etiology. Recurrent pericardial effusion so far has not been described as a manifestation of common variable immunodeficiency. This article points to that rare possibility. INTRODUCTION Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is a chronic disease clinically characterized primarily by repeated infections that may involve any organ. In addition, these patients more frequently acquire autoimmune disorders, malabsorption syndromes, and malignancies.<1_3) We describe our patient because he experienced recurrent pericardial effusion, which so far has not been described in relation to CVID. CASE REPORT The boy was referred to our clinic for the first time at the age of 16 months because of impetigo and hypogammaglobulinemia. His mother's brother died from right heart failure due to chronic pulmonary disease when he was 14 years old. Before that, he was treated several times in our department for agammaglobuline¬ mia and its complications. From the boy's history, we learned that the pregnancy and delivery had been normal. Birth weight was 3,200 g, and birth length was 52 cm. He was breast-fed for a month. He developed normally. At the age of 7 months, he had an episode of bronchitis and recovered on penicillin therapy. Two weeks before admission to our department, impetigo of the gluteal region appeared, and the boy was admitted to the regional hospital. There, low serum gamma globulin was detected, and he was referred to us. At admission, the boy was in good general condition. His height was 80 cm, weight 11 kg (25th—50th percentile by height and weight). On the gluteal regions and the legs, there was impetigo, already dry. Lymph nodes in inguinal regions were about 5 mm in diameter and in other regions were unpalpable. Tonsils were Department of Pediatrics, Clinical Hospital "Dr. M. Stojanovic," Zagreb, Yugoslavia. 279