Constrictive pericarditis history and symptoms
Template:Pericardial constriction Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
History
The clinical history of pericardial constriction cannot be solely used to make a diagnosis due to the multiple symptoms this disease presents. The symptoms may not be recognizable to the patients considering they develop slowly and over time. The early history of pericardial constriction in patients may more consistent with liver disease due to the findings in the venous system.
Symptoms
Symptoms of chronic constrictive pericarditis include:
- Diffculty breathing (dyspnea) that develops slowly and worsens (most common)
- Orthopnea
- Fatigue, excessive tiredness
- Long-term swelling (edema) of the legs and ankles
- Abdominal swelling and discomfort
- Weakness
- Nausea
- Hepatic congestion
- Bowel congestion