Pericarditis

Pericarditis is a condition that affects the pericardium, a thin membrane that surrounds your heart. When pericarditis develops, this can cause the heart’s tissue to become swollen and inflamed, forcing the layers to rub against each other. This can lead to debilitating symptoms that can impact your daily life. There are many types of pericarditis ranging from acute to chronic, and the signs may differ for each patient. Myocarditis Foundation is here to raise awareness about the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of pericarditis, and support research efforts that work toward a cure.

To diagnose symptoms of pericarditis, doctors will use imaging techniques such as X-rays, echocardiograms, pericardial effusion, or MRIs for a detailed look at the heart. They will also check biomarkers for signs of inflammation. According to the European Society of Cardiology, the following criteria could indicate the presence of pericarditis:

• Pericardial chest pain
• Pericardial rubbing sounds
• Widespread ST-segment elevation or PR-segment depression
• Pericardial effusion

Depending on your symptoms and how often your chest pains occur, there are many kinds of pericarditis you can be diagnosed with, including:

• Acute pericarditis
• Recurrent pericarditis
• Incessant pericarditis
• Chronic constrictive pericarditis
• Idiopathic pericarditis
• Acute fibrinous pericarditis
• Chronic effusive pericarditis

Symptoms of any form of pericarditis can last a few days or weeks. They can also recur often and, in some cases, even persist for more than three months.

After receiving your pericarditis diagnosis, it’s important to get the treatment you need as soon as possible. While acute pericarditis can go away on its own, chronic cases can lead to additional complications in the future. For example, cardiac tamponade is a heart disease that stems from chronic pericarditis. This condition forces fluid to build up in the pericardium and prevents the heart from properly working.

Currently, there is one FDA-approved treatment for pericarditis. Please talk to your doctor about this option. However, patients can control most symptoms through over-the-counter medications, working to reduce inflammation and minimize pain. If an underlying illness or disease is causing your pericarditis, your doctor will prescribe medications to resolve it. Before taking any medications, always consult your doctor to ensure they are safe to use alongside additional prescriptions. Doing so will help prevent other complications from arising.

If chronic pericarditis cases worsen or develop into other heart conditions, patients may need surgery. The procedure involves draining excess fluid from the heart through a catheter to relieve pressure.

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