Pericarditis pathophysiology

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Pericarditis may:

• Present as part of a generalized disease
• Present as an isolated disease
• Present as part of a disease that affects nearby organs
• Present as part of multiple diseases

Classification

Pericarditis can be classified according to the composition of the inflammatory exudate or the composition of the fluid that accumulates around the heart.

See also: Pericarditis pathology

Types include:

• Serous
• Purulent
• fibrinous
• Caseous
• Hemorrhagic
• Post infarction

Acute Versus Chronic Pericarditis

Depending on the timing of presentation and duration, pericarditis is divided into "acute" and "chronic" forms. Clinically, acute pericarditis presents within 6 weeks of the disease onset; subacute pericarditis presents within 6 weeks to 6 months of the disease onset; and chronic pericarditis manifests after 6 months of the disease onset.Acute pericarditis is more common than chronic pericarditis, and often occurs as a complication of viral infections, immunologic conditions, or as a result of a heart attack (myocardial infarction). Chronic pericarditis is less common, which may manifest as scarring of the pericardium a condition known as constrictive pericarditis.