Pericarditis

Question 1

Causes

Answer 1

Idiopathic
Viral infections (Coxsackie, mumps, EBV, varicella, rubella, HIV)
Autoimmune disorders (e.g. RA)
Metabolic disorders (e.g. uraemia, myoedema)
Neoplasms
TB
Post-MI/cardiac surgery (esp days 1-3)
Bacterial infections

Question 2

Complications

Answer 2

Pericardial effusion

Constrictive pericarditis

Question 3

Clinical Presentation

Answer 3

Chest pain - pleuritic, postural (relieved by sitting, worse on lying down), substernal radiating to the neck, shoulders, back or epigastrium
Dyspnoea
Fever
Pericardial rub

Question 4

ECG

Answer 4

Global ST elevation

PR depression

Question 5

Investigations

Answer 5

Bloods - Troponin, ESR, CRP, FBE
Imaging - ECG, CXR, Echocardiogram
Pericardiocentesis looking for acid-fast bacilli

Question 6

Management in recurrent pericarditis

Answer 6

Colchicine