Pericarditis
Acute pericarditis is an inflammation of the pericardium.
- Can come on its own or as a consequence of another disorder.
- Can be acute (<2 weeks), subacute (>2 weeks), chronic (>6 months), and recurrent.
- Patients present with fever, chest pain, and dyspnea.
- The pain may radiate and imitate MI, and is worse when laying down.
- Additional symptoms depend on the severity and progression of the disease, along with complications.
- Complications include pericardial effusion, cardiac temponade, and constrictive pericarditis.
- Dressler syndrome or post-MI syndrome is pericarditis appearing 2 weeks after an acute MI. It is less common nowadays.
Etiology
- Infection (coxakievirus)
- MI
- Tumor
- Trauma
- Uremia (CKD)
- Autoimmune disorders
- Connective tissue disorders
Diagnosis
- Physical examination
- Upon auscultation, systolic and diastolic pericardial rub can be heard on the left sternal