Highlights & Basics
- Pericarditis symptoms include sharp, severe retrosternal chest pain worse with inspiration and a supine position.
- The classic physical finding is a pericardial friction rub. A low-grade fever may be present.
- Diagnostic signs include widespread electrocardiographic ST elevation or PR depression and a new or worsening pericardial effusion on echocardiography; blood tests generally suggest systemic inflammation.
- Treatment is directed at any underlying systemic disorder. Idiopathic or viral pericarditis responds to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and colchicine.
- Complications include chronic recurrent pericarditis, cardiac tamponade, and constrictive pericarditis.
Quick Reference
History & Exam
Key Factors
Other Factors
Diagnostics Tests
Treatment Options
Definition
Epidemiology
Etiology
Pathophysiology
Images
Constrictive pericarditis identified at autopsy; the right section is scar tissue cut from the very front of the heart
ECG in a patient with acute pericarditis, showing diffuse ST-segment elevation in the precordial leads. There is also PR-segment depression in leads V2-V6 (arrows)
Chest CT showing a double layer of pericardial calcification in a 56-year-old male patient with idiopathic calcific constrictive pericarditis
Chest CT in a baby with purulent pericarditis showing a pericardial collection with compression of the left (LV) and right (RV) ventricles
Echocardiogram in a baby with purulent pericarditis, showing a pericardial collection. LV = left ventricle, RV = right ventricle
Open surgery in a baby with purulent pericarditis; the abscess is indicated by the arrow
Pericardectomy in a 56-year-old male patient with idiopathic calcific constrictive pericarditis. The pericardium is thickened and calcified
Citations
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