RT Book, Section A1 Lloyd, James W. A1 Luis, Sushil Allen A1 Ye, Zi A1 Oh, Jae K. A2 Fuster, Valentin A2 Narula, Jagat A2 Vaishnava, Prashant A2 Leon, Martin B. A2 Callans, David J. A2 Rumsfeld, John S. A2 Poppas, Athena SR Print(0) ID 1202455795 T1 Acute Pericarditis T2 Fuster and Hurst's The Heart, 15e YR 2022 FD 2022 PB McGraw-Hill Education PP New York, NY SN 9781264257560 LK accesscardiology.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1202455795 RD 2024/10/12 AB Chapter SummaryThis chapter outlines the pathophysiology and management of acute pericarditis as well as prognosis and potential complications (see Fuster and Hurst’s Central Illustration). Of pericardial diseases, acute pericarditis represents the most commonly encountered entity after pericardial effusions. Diagnosis typically involves combined clinical and electrocardiographic assessment, although further evaluation with laboratory studies and imaging (particularly echocardiography) is often required. Frequently, initial assessment yields no particular etiology, suggesting an idiopathic cause (often presumed viral), and treatment rests on combined therapy with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents and colchicine. Less commonly, however, acute pericarditis may develop secondary to either alternative infectious processes (eg, bacterial) or noninfectious factors, including autoimmune/autoinflammatory disorders, pericardial injury (eg, surgery), metabolic derangements, malignancy, or medications. In such instances, treatment may include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents and colchicine as well as therapy directed toward the underlying cause(s). Following its initial identification and treatment, acute pericarditis may be accompanied by one or more complicating factors, including arrhythmias and pericardial effusions (with/without tamponade). Depending on the response to therapy and the successful treatment of contributing factors, acute pericarditis may recur despite initial clinical resolution and can assume an incessant/chronic form. In such cases, a related, but distinct entity may arise in the form of constrictive pericarditis.