Pericardial Diseases Flashcards
normal functions of pericardium
- Double-layered sac
- Exerts a restraining force,
- Prevents sudden dilation of the cardiac chambers during exercise and with hypervolemia - Restricts the anatomic position of the heart
- Decreases the spread of infections from the lungs and pleural cavities to the heart.
causes of pericarditis, MC? (7)
- Defined as inflammation of the pericardial sac
- Wide array of possible causes:
- Idiopathic (MC)
- Infectious - viral MC
- Systemic diseases
- Neoplasms
- Drug toxicity
- Myocardial injury
- Pericardial Injury
infectious causes of pericardial dz, MC?
-
Viral
- Coxsackievirus, echovirus, influenza, varicella, hepatitis, HIV, measles, mumps, CMV, RSV
- Have seasonal peaks. MC in males - Bacterial
- Rare; if occurs, likely an extension of pulmonary infections - TB
- Rare in developed countries
systemic disease causes of pericarditis
- Hypothyroidism
- Inflammatory Diseases
- SLE, RA, Scleroderma, Sarcoidosis, IBD, Polymyositis, and so on - CKD – results in uremic pericarditis
5-10% of pericarditis cases are due to ____, which enter the pericardium via blood, lymph, or direct penetration
cancers (neoplasms)
MC neoplasms that make up over half of cancer pericarditis cases
- Lung & Breast
- Renal cell CA, Leukemias, Lymphomas, and malignant melanomas make up most of the other portion
drug-induced causes of pericarditis
- PCN and cromolyn sodium - induce a hypersensitivity reaction
- Anthracycline chemo agents (doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide) have direct cardiac toxicity (MC)
- Procainamide, hydralazine, methyldopa, isoniazid - develop a drug-induced lupus syndrome, leading to pericarditis
- Phenytoin and minoxidil – unknown mechanism
types of pericardial injury to cause pericarditis
- Invasive cardiac procedures
- Pacemakers, ICDs, PCI, Ablations - Post-pericardiotomy
- Post cardiac surgeries, such as CABG, valve replacements, and so on
- Thought to be an exaggerated immune response to the injury - Trauma
- Blunt or penetrating - Radiation
- Occurs with high doses in the areas overlying or surrounding the heart
myocardial injury types to cause pericarditis
- Post-MI
- Follows a transmural MI; usually indicates a LARGE MI
- Occurs 2-5 days following the MI
- Dressler Syndrome – occurs later (2 weeks) due to a delayed autoimmune / inflammatory response - Post-cardiotomy
- Post cardiac surgeries, such as myomectomy for HCM - Trauma
- Blunt or penetrating
pt is having chest pain, precordial or retrosternal with referral to the trapezius ridge, neck, left shoulder, and arm.
Has a fever
worsened by deep breathing
worse when lying flat, during swallowing or coughing, with body motion
relieved by sitting up and leaning forward; not affected by eating or exertion
what is the dx?
pericarditis
Dyspnea may be present, especially if there is an effusion
Fever is common
4 principle diagnostic features for pericarditis
- Chest Pain
- Pericardial Friction Rub
- EKG
- Pericardial Effusion
what is the cardinal sx of pericarditis? cause?
Chest Pain
caused by the heart rubbing against the pericardium
what sound do you hear on auscultation with pericarditis
Pericardial Friction Rub
Characteristic heart sounds of pericarditis
Present with or without fluid accumulation
diagnostic evaluation/findings with pericarditis
typically clinically w/ little labs performed or needed
1. Viral titers / panel may be obtained if warranted
2. Cardiac enzymes
- May be elevated if myocardium is involved
3. Echocardiogram – obtain on all suspected pericarditis patients
- Most likely normal, unless significant effusion has developed
4. CBC – elevated WBC
5. BMP, Thyroid function tests
6. ESR, CRP
diffuse ST segment elevation, progresses to T wave inversions
PR segments are depressed
what is this EKG showing?
pericarditis
why do we see the ekg changes in acute pericarditis
- generalized inflammation of pericardium thus affecting both the ventricles (ST-T changes) and atria (PR changes).
- PR segment depressed due to atrial injury
As a result, Pericarditis ECG changes are seen in most, if not all, leads including:
how is it different from a STEMI?
- ST elevation–
- diffuse, in both anterior and inferior precordial leads, with reciprocal ST depression in aVR
- upward concavity morphology
- less prominent than in STEMI - PR depression–
- diffuse, in both anterior and inferior precordial leads, with reciprocal PR elevation in aVR
- is discordance with ST segment (i.e. PR depression & ST elevation in the same lead) - T inversion–
- only seen on occasions
- less prominent than in STEMI
management goals for pericarditis
Determine inpatient or outpatient treatment
Treat symptoms / resolve the inflammation
Prevent recurrence
Address underlying cause if possible
CXR and CT/MRI findings of pericarditis
- CXR – normal, unless an underlying malignancy or lung process is identified, or a large effusion is present
- CT / MRI may be necessary if malignancy is suspected
tx for pericarditis
-
NSAIDs are first-line
- Ibuprofen or Indomethacin
- Continue for 1 to 2 weeks, then taper over next 2 weeks - ASA - post-MI cases (1-2 wks, then taper over 2 wks)
- Address Underlying Causes
- TB - Standard anti-TB drug regimen - Uremia due to ESRD
- Dialysis is key
- Chronic pericarditis with production of effusions is common
- NSAIDs - supportive - Prognosis is poor if due to malignancy
If the following are present, consider inpatient management for Acute Pericarditis
Fever > 100.4 (38.3)
Subacute onset
Immunosuppression
Trauma
Oral anticoagulation therapy
ASA or NSAID treatment failure
Myopericarditis
Large pericardial effusion or tamponade
recurrence prevention of pericarditis
- Colchicine is an adjuvant therapy
- Corticosteroids
- Not used routinely; only if underlying disease process needs them (auto-immune or inflammatory diseases)
- May also be used in severe, refractory cases or if patients can’t tolerate NSAIDs or colchicine
- Prednisone 0.25-0.5 mg/kg/day