Pericarditis
The heart is covered by two thin protective layers called the pericardium and the space between these two layers is called the pericardial space. Normally, this space is filled with a small amount of fluid to keep the two layers from sliding against each other.
Pericarditis occurs when these two layers are swollen or inflamed. If the swelling is significant, the heart won’t have room to pump blood out properly leading to a cardiac tamponade.
Pericarditis can occur suddenly (acute), over a period of time (chronic), or it can be recurring in 15-30% of people.
- Acute – is <3 weeks
- Incessant – 4 to 6 weeks and up to 3 months
- Chronic – is >3 months
- Viral causes (common)
- Following a lung infection
- Following trauma to the chest (ex: motor vehicle accidents)
- Following a heart attack (known as Dressler’s Syndrome) or heart surgery
- Autoimmune diseases – like Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE),
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), scleroderma
- Following radiation therapy
- Other conditions like kidney failure, HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, cancer
- Certain medications
- Idiopathic (unknown)
Note: Not everyone may experience all symptoms.
Show references
Imazio M, Gaita F, LeWinter M. Evaluation and Treatment of Pericarditis: A Systematic Review. JAMA. 2015 Oct 13;314(14):1498-506. doi: 10.1001/jama.2015.12763. Erratum in: JAMA. 2015;314(18):1978. Erratum in: JAMA. 2016 Jan 5;315(1):90. Dosage error in article text. PMID: 26461998.
Adler Y, Charron P, Imazio M, et al. 2015 ESC Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of pericardial diseases: The Task Force for the Diagnosis and Management of Pericardial Diseases of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC)Endorsed by: The European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS). Eur Heart J. 2015 Nov 7;36(42):2921-64. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehv318. Epub 2015 Aug 29.
Adler Y, Charron P, Imazio M, et al. 2015 ESC Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of pericardial diseases: The Task Force for the Diagnosis and Management of Pericardial Diseases of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC)Endorsed by: The European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS). Eur Heart J. 2015;36(42):2921-2964. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehv318
Xu B, Harb SC, Cremer PC. New Insights into Pericarditis: Mechanisms of Injury and Therapeutic Targets. Curr Cardiol Rep. 2017;19(7):60. doi: 10.1007/s11886-017-0866-6. PMID: 28528454.
