Adult onset Still's disease is a systemic inflammatory disorder of unknown etiology characterized by the association of a high spiking fever, an evanescent skin rash, arthritis, and hyperleukocytosis. Pericarditis is amongst the most common systemic manifestations of adult onset Still's disease.
We report on two patients with a pericardial tamponade revealing an adult onset Still's disease in a 52-year-old female and a 31-year-old male. Pericardial fluid was bloody in the two cases, and histopathology only disclosed non specific inflammatory changes. Both patients received corticosteroids and outcome was uneventful with a follow-up of 8 years and 12 months, respectively.
Pericardial tamponade is an uncommon clinical feature of adult-onset Still's disease and usually occurs at disease onset. It makes the diagnosis of adult-onset Still's disease difficult as the other disease manifestations are commonly neglected. Adult onset Still's disease should be added to the differential of acute pericarditis and tamponade.