Carditis and cardiomyopathy Flashcards
Define pericarditis. What are the types?
Inflammation of the lining of the heart
- Acute: <4-6 weeks vs constrictive (typically chronic)
- Fibrinous (dry) vs effusive (fluid-purulent, haemorrhagic or serous)
Describe the epidemiology of pericarditis
Common in adults
M > F
Describe the aetiology of pericarditis
90% are idiopathic/infectious
Idiopathic
Infection: viral (coxsackie, echovirus, mumps)
Systemic inflammatory disease: SLE, RA, SS, vasculitis
Post-MI (Dressler’s syndrome)
Metabolic: uraemia
Toxins/drugs
Describe the presentation of acute pericarditis
Diagnosis is clinical, with 2 of 4:
- Sharp pleuritic chest pain, radiates to the back, improved by leaning forward
- Pericardial friction rub
- Widespread concave ST elevation/PR depression
- New pericardial effusion
Describe the signs of pericarditis
Pericardial friction rub (heard best over LSE)
Signs of systemic illness
Fever
Tachycardia
What are the complications of pericarditis?
Cardiac tamponade (in effusive disease) Constrictive pericarditis (occurs months later)
Describe the signs of cardiac tamponade
Beck’s triad:
- Distended neck veins/raised JVP
- Muffled heart sounds
- Hypotension
Pulsus paradoxus Electrical alternans (ECG) Heart failure
Describe the investigations in suspected pericarditis
- ECG: widespread saddle ST elevation/PR depression
- Bloods: FBC, CRP, ESR, troponin, U+Es, LFTs
- CXR
- Echo
- Pericardiocentesis (diagnostic and therapeutic)
Describe the management of pericarditis
Conservative:
- For mild cases with likely viral/idiopathic origin and no worrying features
- Rest and avoid exercise
Medical:
- NSAIDs and colchicine as first line + PPI. Continue NSAID for 1-2 weeks and taper, continue colchicine for 3 months (6 months if recurrent)
- Consider corticosteroids
- Purulent: antibiotics
Surgical/interventional:
- Pericardiocentesis: for tamponade/purulent/neoplastic
- Pericardectomy in recurrent/TB/constrictive
When would you consider admission for patients with pericarditis?
- Any underlying cause that requires admission
- Severe features: high fever, effusion, tamponade, failure to respond to NSAIDs, immunosuppression, etc
Describe the follow-up for pericarditis
- Monitor response to treatment after 1-2 weeks
- Monitor CRP
What is amyloidosis?
A group of conditions that are characterised by the deposition of abnormal proteins that are resistant to degradation.
Describe the aetiology of amyloidosis
Can be either AL amyloid as a result of conditions associated with light chains (MM, MGUS)
Or AA amyloid, associated w chronic inflammation
Several types of familial amyloidosis
Most commonly affects kidneys, GI tract, thyroid, heart
Describe the presentation of amyloidosis
May present in a variety of ways eg. -Cardiomyopathy -Nephrotic syndrome -Neuropathy Specific to cardiac: -HF symptoms: dyspnoea, fatigue, oedema, weight loss
Describe the signs of amyloidosis
Peripheral oedema
Raised JVP
Hepatomegaly
Various skin changes
Describe the investigations of amyloidosis (cardiac)
ECG: hypertrophy
Bloods: serum light chains, general screen, trop, BNP
Echo: HFpEF
Cardiac MRI: helps distinguish from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Biopsy: essential for diagnosis
Describe the management of amyloidosis (cardiac)
MDT approach
AL: suppress light chain production- SCT, chemo
AA: treat inflammatory disease- immunosuppressants
What type of cardiomyopathy is caused by amyloidosis?
Restrictive- this is the most common cause of death in amyloidosis