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Pericarditis Updated 4/2011

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BASICS

  • Description
  • Epidemiology
  • Risk Factors
  • Pathophysiology
  • Etiology
  • Associated Conditions

DIAGNOSIS

  • Signs and Symptoms
  • Tests
  • Differential Diagnosis

TREATMENT

  • Medication (Drugs)
  • Additional Treatment
  • Surgery
  • In-patient Considerations

Ongoing Care

  • Follow-Up Recommendations
  • Diet
  • Prognosis
  • Complications
The following is an excerpt....
BASICS
Description
  • Inflammatory process of the pericardium, with or without associated pericardial effusion; a broad spectrum of etiologies with most common causes being idiopathic or viral
  • System(s) affected: Cardiovascular
  • Synonym(s): Acute suppurative pericarditis
Epidemiology
Incidence
  • Epidemiologic studies lacking
  • Exact incidence unknown, but occurs in up to 5% of patients evaluated in emergency room for chest pain without myocardial infarction (MI) (1)
Risk Factors
Genetics

No known genetic factors

Pathophysiology

Acute inflammation that can produce serous or purulent fluid or dense fibrinous material (depending on etiology)

Etiology
  • Idiopathic: 85-90% of cases. Likely related to viral infection (2)[B].
  • Infectious:
    • Viral: Coxsackievirus, echovirus, adenovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, hepatitis viruses, influenza virus, HIV, measles, mumps, varicella
    • Bacterial: Gram-positive ...

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See Also
Images >
Figure 138.1. Electrocardiogram of a 35-year-old man with acute pericarditis. Note the diffuse, concave-upward ST-segment elevation.Credit: From Harwood-Nuss A, MD FACEP, Wolfson AB, MD, FACEP, FACP, et al. The Clinical Practice of Emergency Medicine, 3rd Edition. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2001.
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