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Acute Pericarditis Dx (2 of 4)
- Pericarditic chest pain (sharp, pleuritic, positional)
- Friction rub
- Diffuse STâ + PRâ
- New/worsening pericardial effusion
Common Causes
- Viral / idiopathic (80%)
- Post-MI (early, Dressler)
- Post-cardiac surgery
- Uremic
- Autoimmune (SLE, RA)
- TB (constrictive risk!)
- Malignancy
- Drugs (hydralazine, procainamide, INH)
ECG of Pericarditis
- Diffuse STâ (not territorial)
- PRâ (most specific)
- PRâ in aVR
- 4 stages: STE â normalize â T inversion â normal
Treatment
- NSAID + colchicine 3 months (CORP, ICAP, COPE)
- Avoid steroids first-line (â recurrence)
- Rilonacept (IL-1 trap) for refractory recurrent (RHAPSODY 2020)
- Pericardiectomy for incessant
Tamponade
- Beck triad: hypotension + JVD + muffled HS
- Pulsus paradoxus > 10 mmHg
- ECG: low voltage, electrical alternans
- Echo: RA/RV collapse, IVC plethora
- Emergency pericardiocentesis
Constrictive Pericarditis
- TB most common globally; surgery + radiation most common in developed
- Echo: septal bounce, respiratory variation, preserved eâ
- CMR: thickening > 4 mm
- Cath: square root sign, equalization
- Treatment: pericardiectomy
ææ··æ·æ¯èŒ
| Pain |
Pleuritic, positional |
Less common |
Variable |
| Rub |
Yes |
No |
Sometimes |
| ECG |
Diffuse STâ + PRâ |
LV/AF |
Low voltage, alternans |
| JVP |
Normal/â |
Markedly â, Kussmaul |
Markedly â |
| Pulsus paradoxus |
No |
Sometimes |
Yes (> 10 mmHg) |
| Treatment |
NSAID + colchicine |
Pericardiectomy |
Pericardiocentesis |
Key Trials
- CORP (2005), ICAP (2013), COPE (2005): colchicine â recurrence
- RHAPSODY (2020): rilonacept for recurrent pericarditis (FDA 2021)
- AIRTRIP (2016): anakinra for refractory