Cardiology - Pericarditis

Question 1

What are some potential causes of pericarditis?

Answer 1

Idiopathic
Infection (TB, HIV, EBV, coxsackievirus)
Autoimmune and inflammatory (SLE and RA)
Injury
Uraemia
Cancer
Medications (e.g. methotrexate)

Question 2

What happens in pericardial effusion?

Answer 2

Potential space of pericardial cavity fills with fluid

Pressure on heart, increases difficulty to fill during diastole

Question 3

What happens in cardiac tamponade?

Answer 3

Pericardial effusion large enough that reduces the hearts ability to fill during diastole decreasing CO

Question 4

How does pericarditis present?

Answer 4

Pleuritic pain
Low-grade fever
Sharp
Worse on lying down
Pericardial rub on auscultation

Question 5

What do these show in pericarditis?
- Blood tests
- ECG
- Echocardiogram

Answer 5

Blood tests
Raised CRP, ESR and WCC

ECG
Saddle-shaped ST-elevation
PR depression

Echocardiogram
Pericardial effusion

Question 6

How is pericarditis managed?

Answer 6

NSAIDs

Colchicine
- Reduce risk of recurrence

Steroids
- If severe

Treat any underlying causes

Pericardiocentesis