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ACUTE PERICARDITIS

Pericarditis is the inflammation of the pericardial sac and accounts for 5% of visits to the emergency room for chest pain without myocardial infarction.

The patient experiences chest pain that is sharp, pleuritic and improves with sitting up and leaning forward.

Acute pericarditis is characterized by new-onset pericarditis with at least 2 of the following:

  • Pericarditic chest pain
  • Pericardial friction rubs
  • New or worsening pericardial effusion
  • ECG finding of a new diffuse ST-segment elevation or PR depression

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
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