Pericarditis

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Presentation :

• Diagnosis requires 2 of 4 criteria:
  • Typical pericarditis chest pain
  • Classic pericardial friction rub
  • New pericarditis EKG changes
  • New pericardial effusion

Pathophysiology :

Diagnostic Testing:

Treatment :

• Colchicine + NSAID/Aspirin (ASA preferred after MI)
  • Colchicine shortens symptom duration and reduces treatment failure and recurrence.
• Add on corticosteroid if:
  • recurrent episode
  • chronic (>4-6 wks) despite therapy
  • autoimmune
  • uremic + unresponsive to HD
• Most patients with acute pericarditis can be managed as outpatients; however, those with accompanying high-risk features may require hospitalization for treatment and monitoring:
  • High-risk features, include: temperature higher than 38.0 °C (100.4 °F), subacute onset, a large pericardial effusion or tamponade at presentation, oral anticoagulation therapy, or lack of response to treatment, may require hospitalization

Prognosis:

References: