Constrictive pericarditis differential diagnosis

Template:Pericardial constriction Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor-In-Chief: Atif Mohammad, M.D.

Complete Differential Diagnosis

In many cases, constrictive pericarditis is a late sequela of an inflammatory condition of the pericardium. The inflammatory condition is usually an infection that involves the pericardium, but it may be after a heart attack or after heart surgery.

Almost half the cases of constrictive pericarditis in the developing world are idiopathic in origin. In regions where tuberculosis is common, it is the cause in a large portion of cases.

Causes of constrictive pericarditis include:

• Post Viral Pericarditis
• Tuberculosis
• Postsurgical
• Prior mediastinal radiation therapy
• Chronic Renal Failure
• Connective Tissue Disorders
• Neoplastic pericardial infiltration
• Incomplete drainage of purulent pericarditis
• Fungal and Parasitic Infections
• Following pericarditis associated with ST elevation myocardial infarction (Dressler's syndrome)
• In Association with pulmonary asbestosis