Pericarditis

 

Pericarditis diagram. Image Credit: joshya / Shutterstock.com

About pericarditis

The heart is surrounded by a flexible two-layered membrane called the pericardium. The two layers are separated by a thin slick of fluid that allows the layers to glide easily over each other. The role of the pericardium includes keeping the heart in place and protecting it from infection and friction.

Pericarditis is inflammation of the pericardium, which causes its two layers to rasp and rub against each other as the heart contracts and relaxes. The symptoms may be similar to those of heart attack and include chest pain and abnormal heart rhythms. Men aged between 20 and 50 years are most at risk.

The main types of pericarditis include:

• viral pericarditis
• bacterial pericarditis
• constrictive pericarditis
• post-heart attack pericarditis
• chronic effusive pericarditis.

In many cases the condition can’t be prevented, but prompt treatment of infections (such as pneumonia) will reduce the risk of bacterial pericarditis.

Symptoms of pericarditis

The symptoms of pericarditis depend on the type, but may include:

• high temperature
• sweating and chills
• breathing problems, such as breathlessness
• dry cough
• abnormal heart rhythms, such as accelerated heartbeat (tachycardia)
• sharp and stabbing chest pains
• pain radiating into the left shoulder and arm
• pain that is aggravated by lying down or taking deep breaths.

Causes of pericarditis

Some of the causes of pericarditis include:

• bacterial infection
• viral infection
• chest injury
• heart attack
• heart surgery
• kidney failure
• autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus
• cancer
• radiation therapy.

Viral pericarditis

Viruses are the most common cause of pericarditis. For example, a viral chest infection can lead to pericarditis.

Viral pericarditis has no specific medication treatment and usually goes away by itself. Medicines may be given to help with the inflammation and symptoms.

Bacterial pericarditis

This condition is potentially fatal without prompt medical treatment. Most cases of bacterial pericarditis are triggered by infections somewhere else in the body. For example, a person with pneumonia (lung infection) may be vulnerable to bacterial pericarditis if the bacteria access the pericardium directly or via the bloodstream.

Constrictive pericarditis

As the pericardium recovers from injury or inflammation, scar tissue may form. Scar tissue makes the pericardium stiff and hard, so that the heart is unable to fill properly with blood. Symptoms include unexplained weight loss, fatigue, breathlessness, swelling of the abdomen and heart murmurs.

Without treatment, constrictive pericarditis can lead to a range of complications including:

• irregular heartbeat (heart arrhythmia)
• heart failure
• liver damage.

Post-heart attack pericarditis

While pericarditis doesn’t cause or contribute to heart attack, the injury to cardiac tissue caused by a heart attack can sometimes lead to pericarditis. This is known as post-myocardial infarction (post-MI) pericarditis.

The symptoms may not appear for some weeks or months after the heart attack, and can include relatively mild chest pain, joint pains and fever. 

Pericarditis following heart surgery

Pericarditis may be a complication of heart surgery. Certain operations on the heart involve opening the pericardium to apply coronary artery bypass grafts, open or replace heart valves, or undertake other corrective procedures.

Chronic effusive pericarditis

Long-term inflammation causes a gradual build-up of fluid within the two layers of the pericardium. In most cases, the reasons for this are unknown. Two of the known causes of chronic effusive pericarditis are tuberculosis and hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland).

Complications of pericarditis

Some of the dangerous complications of pericarditis include:

• cardiac tamponade – fluid builds up between the two layers of the pericardium. The heart is compressed and can’t function properly. This requires immediate attention and can be fatal.
• abscess – a build-up of pus either within the heart or in the pericardium
• spread of infection – as with any infection, the infection can spread to other areas
• constrictive pericarditis – the pericardium is scarred by the inflammation. Scar tissue doesn’t stretch, so the heart can’t function properly.

Diagnosis of pericarditis

Pericarditis is diagnosed using a number of tests including:

• medical history
• physical examination – including listening to the heart through a stethoscope. The doctor will hear the inflamed pericardium layers rubbing against each other
• electrocardiogram (ECG)
• chest x-ray
• echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart)
• magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of the chest
• blood tests
• a sample of pericardium fluid may be drawn off with a fine needle and examined in a laboratory.

Treatment of pericarditis

Treatment for pericarditis depends on the cause and severity, but may include:

• rest
• pain-relieving medication
• diuretics to remove excess fluid, including from the pericardium
• surgical drainage of the excess fluid (pericardiocentesis)
• medication to reduce inflammation, such as colchicine or, in some cases, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication (NSAIDS) as directed by your doctor
• medication to treat arrhythmia
• surgery to remove the pericardium (surgical pericardectomy).
• Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial pericarditis.

Surgical pericardectomy

Surgery to remove the pericardium is called surgical pericardectomy. It is rarely required.

Surgery may be considered if the pericardium is scarred and inflexible, or if pericarditis keeps recurring. The damaged parts of the pericardium are removed, or the entire sac is cut away, depending on the severity.

Even though the pericardium helps to support and protect the heart, its removal doesn’t cause any harm. The heart can function perfectly well without it. 

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