Constrictive pericarditis overview
Template:Pericardial constriction Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor-In-Chief: Atif Mohammad, M.D.
Overview
Pericardial constriction occurs when a fibrotic, adherent pericardium restricts diastolic filling of the heart. Variants of Constrictive Pericarditis have been described such as transient, subtle, effusive and chronic, depending on the course of the disease. The disease process typically begins with pericardial inflammation that progresses onto fibrosis. It may occasionally follow an episode of acute pericarditis. There is fibrous scarring of the pericardium and usually fusion of the visceral and parietal pericardium. [1] [2] [3]
Differentiating Pericardial constriction from other Diseases
Constrictive pericarditis must be differentiated from restrictive cardiomyopathy. The evaluation of ventricular interdependence between the two ventricles is the best objective method to distinguish the two syndromes.
References
- ↑ Mehta A, Mehta M, Jain AC. Constrictive pericarditis. Clin Cardiol 1999; 22:334-44.
- ↑ Cameron J, Oesterle SN, Baldwin JC, Hancock EW. The etiologic spectrum of constrictive pericarditis. Am Heart J 1987; 113:354-60.
- ↑ Ling LH, Oh JK, Schaff HV, et al. Constrictive pericarditis in the modern era: evolving clinical spectrum and impact on outcome after pericardiectomy. Circulation 1999; 100:1380-6.