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Pericarditis    See images

Overview | Symptoms | Treatment | Prevention

Definition:

A disorder caused by inflammation of the pericardium, the sac-like covering of the heart.

Causes and Risks

Pericarditis can be caused by bacterial, fungal, or viral infections such as polio, influenza, rubella, rheumatic fever and tuberculosis. The most common identifiable causes in children are adenovirus and cocksackie viruses.

It may be a result of injury or trauma to the chest, esophagus, or heart. Pericarditis may be caused by systemic diseases such as cancer, kidney failure, leukemia, HIV infections, AIDS or AIDS related disorders, autoimmune disorders, heart attack, myocarditis, and treatments such as radiation therapy to the chest and use of medications that suppress the immune system.

Pain occurs as a result of the inflamed pericardium rubbing against the heart. Fluid may accumulate in the pericardial sac.

Classifications of pericarditis include bacterial pericarditis (also called purulent or infectious pericarditis), constrictive pericarditis, and post-MI pericarditis. Restrictive cardiomyopathy is a disorder that can result from pericarditis when inflammation of the pericardial sac results in fibrosis and scarring of the pericardium. This can result in restriction of the normal cardiac function. Pericarditis can often affect men ages 20 to 50, usually following respiratory infections. It can also occur after a myocardial infarction.

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