A fluid relationship: Calcineurin inhibitors and pericardial effusions.

Background: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a common and effective treatment for multiple malignant and non-malignant pediatric conditions. Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a common complication of HSCT that can be prevented with prophylactic use of calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) immunosuppressants. A complication of HSCT and CNI use is pericardial effusion (PEF), which is frequently treated by CNI discontinuation with or without surgical intervention.