acute pericarditis clinical manifestations

Written by Liu Ying
Cardiology
Updated on September 03, 2024
00:00
00:00

The clinical manifestations of acute pericarditis include symptoms and signs. The symptoms of acute pericarditis are pain behind the sternum and in the precordial region, which often occurs during the fibrinous exudative phase of inflammation. The pain can radiate to the neck, left shoulder, left arm, and even the upper abdomen. The nature of the pain is sharp, related to respiratory movements. As the condition progresses, the pain can disappear and be replaced by difficulty breathing. Some patients may develop significant pericardial effusion leading to cardiac tamponade, resulting in symptoms such as difficulty breathing, edema, and other related symptoms. During acute pericarditis, the most diagnostically valuable sign is the pericardial friction rub, typically located in the precordial area. A typical friction rub can be heard consistent with atrial contraction, ventricular contraction, and ventricular relaxation, known as a triphasic friction rub, and so on.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
40sec home-news-image

Tuberculous pericarditis differential diagnosis

The differential diagnosis of tuberculous pericarditis requires differentiation from other types of pericardial inflammation, such as bacterial pericarditis and nonspecific infections that lead to cellular inflammation of the pericardium. In addition to infections that can cause pericarditis, other infectious diseases such as subacute endocarditis and infections caused by other microbes can also lead to pericarditis. Furthermore, some rheumatic autoimmune diseases can also present with pericarditis. It is necessary to perform pericardiocentesis and fluid examination to determine the specific cause.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Ying
Cardiology
1min home-news-image

Constrictive pericarditis clinical manifestations

Patients with constrictive pericarditis often have a history of pericarditis, pericardial effusion, malignant tumors, and other diseases. Some patients have an insidious onset with no obvious clinical symptoms in the early stages. The main symptoms can include palpitations, exertional dyspnea, decreased exercise tolerance, fatigue, enlarged liver, pleural effusion, abdominal effusion, and edema of the lower limbs. Patients with constrictive pericarditis commonly present with elevated jugular venous pressure, and often have a reduced pulse pressure. Most patients exhibit a negative apical beat during systole, with a commonly faster heart rate. The rhythm can be sinus, atrial, or ventricular, with premature contractions possible, as well as Kussmaul's sign. In the late stages, muscle atrophy, cachexia, and severe edema can occur.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Ying
Cardiology
56sec home-news-image

Pericarditis is caused by what?

Pericarditis refers to the inflammatory disease of the visceral and parietal layers of the pericardium. It can be classified according to its etiology into infectious, non-infectious, allergic, and immune pericarditis. Causes of infectious pericarditis include viral, purulent, tuberculous, and fungal pericarditis. Non-infectious pericarditis can be caused by acute myocardial infarction, uremia, tumors, trauma, aortic dissection, radiation, acute idiopathic, and sarcoidosis, among others. Causes of allergic or immune pericarditis include rheumatic, vasculitis, drugs, and more. Some patients remain undiagnosed after examinations and are categorized as having idiopathic pericarditis or nonspecific pericarditis.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Ying
Cardiology
1min 1sec home-news-image

Treatment of constrictive pericarditis

Constrictive pericarditis refers to a disease in which the heart is surrounded by a densely thickened fibrotic or calcified pericardium, restricting ventricular diastolic filling and producing a series of circulatory disorders, typically chronic in nature. In China, the most common cause of constrictive pericarditis is tuberculosis. Constrictive pericarditis is a progressive disease, and most patients will develop chronic constrictive pericarditis. At this stage, pericardiectomy is the only effective treatment method. It should be performed early to avoid complications such as cardiac cachexia, severe liver dysfunction, and myocardial atrophy, with surgery usually carried out after controlling the pericardial infection. For tuberculosis patients, anti-tuberculosis treatment should continue for one year after surgery.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Chen Tian Hua
Cardiology
54sec home-news-image

How is acute pericarditis classified?

Acute pericarditis is classified according to the course of the disease, including acute fibrinous pericarditis and acute exudative pericarditis. If classified according to the cause, it can be divided into infectious pericarditis and non-infectious pericarditis. Infectious pericarditis can be caused by viruses, bacteria, tuberculosis, fungi, etc., while non-infectious pericarditis can be seen in tumors, uremia, acute myocardial infarction, aortic dissection, connective tissue disease, trauma, and cardiac surgery, etc. Acute pericarditis is an acute inflammatory disease of the pericardium's parietal layer, and its occurrence requires timely diagnosis. It is also important to further clarify the specific cause of acute pericarditis and actively treat it.