Clinical Signs of Acute Pericarditis and Its Complications

Hospital Physician January 2007 45 A cute pericarditis, or inflammation of the pericardial sac, is a disorder that can be caused by many underlying conditions. Making the diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion because pericarditis may occur alone or in association with a systemic disease.1 In many cases, the etiology is not identified. The most commonly identified causes of acute pericarditis are infection, autoimmune disorders, inflammatory diseases, neoplastic disorders, iatrogenic mechanisms, metabolic disorders, and trauma (Table 1). Most cases of acute pericarditis, however, can be attributed to a viral infection.2 Acute pericarditis may be complicated by pericardial effusion, cardiac tamponade, recurrent pericarditis, and chronic constrictive pericarditis.1,3 Thus, it is important to not only recognize pericarditis, but also to assess for its complications.