A case of constrictive pericarditis during cabergoline treatment for hyperprolactinaemia

Objective: Treatment with dopamine agonists has been associated with cardiopulmonary fibrotic reactions, predominantly in patients treated for Parkinson's disease. To our knowledge, these reactions have previously not been associated with low-dose cabergoline treatment for hyperprolactinaemia. Method: A case of constrictive pericarditis in a patient treated with cabergoline for hyperprolactinaemia is presented. The patient has been treated at a county hospital and a university hospital in southern Sweden. Results: A 20-year-old woman with a 3-year history of amenorrhoea was referred to the department in 1992. From 2001 to 2005, she was given cabergoline, 0.5-1.5 mg/week. In 2005 a pericardectomy was performed due to fibrotic, constrictive pericarditis. Conclusions: Our present case suggests that constrictive pericarditis may develop even on low-dose cabergoline, which might indicate that this reaction, as opposed to valvular fibrosis, is not mediated by a 5-HT213 agonistic mechanism.