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Introduction
- Pericardial syndromes include diseases of the pericardium with characteristic manifestations that can be formed into “syndromes”
- Include pericarditis, pericardial effusion, cardiac tamponade and constrictive pericarditis
Definition
- Pericarditis is the inflammation of the pericardial sac and accounts for 5% of visits to the emergency room for chest pain without myocardial infarction
Etiology
- Cause in 80% of cases is either postviral or idiopathic in developed countries while tuberculosis (TB) is the most common cause in developing countries where it is endemic
Signs and Symptoms
- Chest pain is sharp, pleuritic and improves with sitting up and leaning forward
Risk Factors
- In the general admitted population, at higher risk for pericarditis are men 16-65 years of age than women
