pericardial disease Flashcards
give a description of the pericardium
- double layered sac
- exerts a restraining force
- restricts the anatomic position of the heart
- decreases spread of infections from lungs/pleural cavities to the heart
what is pericarditis
inflammation of the pericardial sac
what are possible infectious causes of pericarditis
- viral (MC)
- bacterial (rare, usuallt pulm infection)
- TB (rare in developed countries)
what are systemic disease etiologies for pericarditis
- hypothyroidism
- inflammatory disease (SLE, RA< Scleroderma, sarcoidosis, IBD, polymyositis, ect)
- CKD (uremic pericarditis)
what percent of pericarditis is caused by cancer?
5-10% due to cancers/neoplasms entering pericardium via blood, lymph or direct penetration
Lung CA and Breat CA make of over half of cancer pericarditis patients
RCC, leukemia, lymphomas, and malignant myelomas make up the other half
what could be causes of drug induced pericarditis
- PCN and cromolyn sodium (induce hypersensitivity rxn)
- anthracycline chemo agents (doxorubicin, cyclophophsamide) have cardiac toxicity
- procainamine, hydralazine, mathyldopa, isoniazid develop drug-induced lupus leading to pericarditis
- phenytoin and minoxidil - unknown mechanism
what could be the cause of pericarditis via pericardial injury
- invasive cardiac procedures
- post-pericardiotomy
- trauma
- radiation
what could be the cause of pericarditis via myocardial injury
- post MI
- post-cardiotomy
- trauma
How soon after an MI can pericarditis occur? what does this indicate?
- this usually indicates a LARGE MI
- occurs 2-5 days following MI
- dressler syndrome - occurs 2 weeks later due to delayed autoimmune/inflammatory response.
what are the four principle diagnostic features of pericarditis
- chest pain
- pericardial friction rub
- EKG
- percardial effusion
what is the cardinal symptom of pericarditis and what causes it
- chest pain!
- caused by rubbing of the heart against the pericardium
what is the description of the chest pain that is felt in pericarditis? describe:
location
quality
aggravating factors
intensity
relieving factors
- precordial/retrsternal with referral to trapezius, neck, left shoulder or arm
- pleuritic (worse with deep breathing) but can range from sharp/dull/aching/burning
- wose when lying flat, swallowing, coughing and with movement
- intensity can be very mild or very severe
- may be relieved by sitting up and leaning forward.
what symptoms aside from chest pain could occur in a patient with pericarditis.
- dyspnea (especially with effusion)
- fever
what physical exam finding is common in pericarditis
pericardial friction rub
how is pericarditis diagnosed
typically clinically! any labs ordered are directed at the CAUSE of the pericarditis
what labs could be ordered for pericarditis?
- viral titers/panels (if warranted)
- cardiac enzymes (elevated if myocardium is envolved)
- echo (should be normal unless effusion)
- CBC - (elevated WBC)
- BMP, TFT, ESR, CRP
what may be seen on EKG for pericarditis
- ST elevation (diffuse in ant/inf leads with reciprocal aVR ST depression)
- PR depression (diffuse in ant/inf leads with reciprocal PR elevation in aVR)
- T wave inversion (only seen sometimes)
flip this and youll see an EKG example of pericarditis!:)
flip this and youll see an example of STEMI vs pericarditis EKG
what causes the ST-T and the PR changes in pericarditis
the generalized inflammation of the pericardium thus affecting both ventricles (ST-Tchanges) and the atria (PR changes)
how does a CXR present in pericarditis
typically normal, unless an underlying malignancy or lung process is identified, or a large effusion is present
when is CT or MRI necessary in pericarditis
when malignancy is suspected
what are the essentials of diagnosis for pericarditis?
- anterior pleuritic chest pain worse supine than upright
- pericardial rub
- fever common
- ESR or inflammatory CRP usually elevated
- ECG reveals diffuse ST seg elevation with assocaited PR depression
(idk how this differs from the four diagnostic feature on card 10, so maybe take a look for yourself)
what are the goals of management for pericarditis
- Determine inpatient or outpatient treatment
- Treat symptoms / resolve the inflammation
- Prevent recurrence
- Address underlying cause if possible
what is the treatment of pain and inflammation in pericarditis
- NSAIDS first line (ibuprofen or indomethacin 3-4 weeks)
- ASA should be used in post MI cases for 3-4 weeks
be sure to taper these down over hte last 2 weeks!
what are the indications for inpatient treatment of pericarditis
- Fever > 100.4 (38.3)
- Subacute onset
- Immunosuppression
- Trauma
- Oral anticoagulation therapy
- ASA or NSAID treatment failure
- Myopericarditis
- Large pericardial effusion or tamponade
what is used in recurrence prevention of pericarditis
- colchicine as adjuvant therapy (3 months)
- corticosteroids (severe/refractory cases where NSAIDS and colchicine are not tolerated. also in inflammatory or autoimmune eitologies)
what is the treatment for TB etiologic pericarditis
Standard anti-TB drug regimen is treatment of choice