Pericardial Fluid in a COVID-19 Patient: Is It Exudate or Transudate?

BACKGROUND: Very limited information is available on pericardial effusion as a complication of COVID-19 infection There are no reports regarding pericardial fluid findings in COVID-19 patients CASE DESCRIPTION: We describe a 41-year-old woman, with confirmed COVID-19, who presented with a large pericardial effusion The pericardial fluid was drained We present the laboratory findings to improve knowledge of this virus DISCUSSION: We believe this is the first such reported case Findings suggested the fluid was exudative, with remarkably high lactate dehydrogenase and albumin levels We hope our data provide additional insight into the diagnosis and therapeutic options for managing this infection LEARNING POINTS: Laboratory findings of drained pericardial fluid in a patient with COVID-19 are presented The clinical presentation of pericardial involvement in COVID-19 infection and the role of echocardiography in diagnosis and management are described