Pericarditis
Pericarditis (pronunciation: peri·car·di·tis) is a heart condition. It is the inflammation of the pericardium, the tissue (sack) surrounding the heart.[1]
| Pericarditis | |
|---|---|
 | |
| An ECG showing pericarditis, with ST elevation in multiple leads and slight reciprocal ST depression in aVR. | |
| Symptoms | Sharp chest pain, better sitting up and worse with lying down, fever[2] |
| Complications | Cardiac tamponade, myocarditis, constrictive pericarditis[2][3] |
| Usual onset | Typically sudden[2] |
| Duration | Few days to weeks[4] |
| Causes | Viral infection, tuberculosis, uremic pericarditis, following a heart attack, cancer, autoimmune disorders, chest trauma[5][6] |
| Diagnostic method | Based on symptoms, electrocardiogram, fluid around the heart[7] |
| Differential diagnosis | Heart attack[2] |
| Treatment | NSAIDs, colchicine, corticosteroids[7] |
| Prognosis | Usually good[7][8] |
| Frequency | 3 per 10,000 per year[3] |
Signs and Symptoms
Pericarditis can be acute pericarditis or chronic pericarditis. A typical symptom of acute pericarditis is a sharp, pricking chest pain taking place rapidly. It is felt in the left side of chest or the middle in women unless the pain is radiating.[verification needed] The pain could go (radiate) to the upper back or be on the chest[verification needed] (and it may depend on sitting/standing forward or straight posture). There may be pain in one or both shoulders, abdomen, back, and neck.[2][3]
Pericarditis Media
Diffuse ST elevation in a young male due to myocarditis / pericarditis
An ECG showing pericarditis. Note the ST elevation in multiple leads with slight reciprocal ST depression in aVR.
A pericardial effusion as seen on CXR in someone with pericarditis
References
- ↑ What Is Pericarditis?. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (September 26, 2012).
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Pericarditis?. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (September 26, 2012). Retrieved 28 September 2016.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Imazio, Massimo. Diagnosis and treatment of pericarditis (in en). Heart 101 (14) (2015-07-15). p. 1159–1168. doi:10.1136/heartjnl-2014-306362.
- ↑ How Is Pericarditis Treated? - NHLBI, NIH (2016-10-02). Retrieved 2025-04-21.
- ↑ What Causes Pericarditis? - NHLBI, NIH (2016-10-02). Retrieved 2025-04-21.
- ↑ Tingle, Leslie E.. Acute pericarditis. American Family Physician 76 (10) (2007-11-15). p. 1509–1514.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Imazio, Massimo. Evaluation and Treatment of Pericarditis: A Systematic Review (in en). JAMA 314 (14) (2015-10-13). p. 1498. doi:10.1001/jama.2015.12763.
- ↑ Cunha, Burke A.. Antibiotic Essentials (in en) (2010)Jones & Bartlett Publishers. p. 71. ISBN 978-1-4496-1870-4.
