Pericarditis

Acute Pericarditis

Acute pericarditis is a condition referring to inflammation of the pericardial sac, lasting for less than 4-6 weeks.

Aetiology

• viral infections (Coxsackie)
• tuberculosis
• uraemia
• post-myocardial infarction
  • early (1-3 days): fibrinous pericarditis
  • late (weeks to months): autoimmune pericarditis (Dressler's syndrome)
• radiotherapy
• connective tissue disease
  • systemic lupus erythematosus
  • rheumatoid arthritis
• hypothyroidism
• malignancy
  • lung cancer
  • breast cancer
• trauma

most common cause - virus

Uremic pericarditis in CKD 2° chemical irritation

Other causes: idiopathic, vasculitis, neoplasms, trauma, disorders of metabolism

Features:

• Chest pain: precordial pain +/- left shoulder and back, sharp, stabbing, worsened by lying down, coughing, and deep inspiration; relief with sitting and leaning forward;
• other symptoms include a non-productive cough, dyspnoea and flu-like symptoms