Myopericarditis and leishmaniasis: a case report

Leishmaniasis belongs to a group of neglected tropical diseases worldwide, causing significant morbidity and mortality. Cardiovascular complications are rare; however, when they occur, they can be severe. Pericardial involvement with varying degrees of effusion is one of its main complications, whereas myocardial involvement remains poorly documented and not well established.

In our case report, we present a young woman from the Amazon region, diagnosed with cutaneous leishmaniasis and exertional dyspnoea. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging revealed active pericarditis with significant pericardial effusion and myocardial involvement characterized by non-ischaemic late gadolinium enhancement. The patient remains under clinical surveillance, improving pericardial effusion with specific treatment.

Our case highlights a possible association between leishmaniasis and myopericardial involvement and underscores the importance of considering this diagnosis in patients from endemic regions, while acknowledging that a causal relationship cannot be established.