Ascites due to right atrial myxoma in a haemodialysis patient.

BACKGROUND

Persistent fluid overload in patients on renal replacement therapy despite good dialysis adequacy or obvious cardiac dysfunction should prompt a search for rarer causes.

CASE PRESENTATION: We report here a rare cause of persistent peripheral oedema and ascites in a well-dialysed patient. CT scanning revealed a right atrial myxoma that was later confirmed on an echocardiogram.

CONCLUSION

Fluid overload states are common in patients on dialysis. Common causes are inadequacy of dialysis and non-compliance. Where aetiology is not easily apparent further investigations into rarer causes should be sought.