Pericarditis pathophysiology
|
Pericarditis Microchapters |
|
Diagnosis |
|---|
|
Treatment |
|
Surgery |
|
Case Studies |
|
Pericarditis pathophysiology On the Web |
|
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Pericarditis pathophysiology |
|
Risk calculators and risk factors for Pericarditis pathophysiology |
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.[1]
Types include:
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.