Overview of Pathophysiology & Etiology
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Pericarditis is inflammation of the pericardium, the double-walled sac that contains the heart and the roots of the great vessels. There can be an accompanying accumulation of fluid that can be either serous (free flowing fluid) or fibrinous (an exudate, which is a thick fluid composed of proteins, fibrin strands, inflammatory cells, cell breakdown products, and sometimes bacteria). Vascular congestion of the pericardium is also present. The underlying myocardium may or may not be inflammed as well. If the myocardium is involved in the inflammatory process, then this is called myopericarditis, and the CK and troponin may be elevated.
The signs and symptoms of acute pericarditis can be misleading because they can occur as part of a constellation of symptoms associated with another illness.