Pericarditis

Question 1

What can cause pericarditis?

Answer 1

most commonly - idiopathic/ viral
medications - methotrexate
lupus/ RA
uraemia
injury
cancer

Question 2

What are the symptoms of pericarditis?

Answer 2

chest pain - sharp, central/ anterior, worse with inspiration (pleuritic), worse on lying down, better on sitting forward
fever

Question 3

How is pericarditis treated?

Answer 3

NSAIDs

Question 4

What is the key clinical sign of pericarditis?

Answer 4

pericardial friction rub
- rubbing/ scratching sound
- on auscultation

Question 5

What would be shown on the blood test, ECG and echocardiogram of someone with pericarditis?

Answer 5

blood - raised CRP and ESR
ECG - saddle shaped ST elevation and PR depression
echocardiogram - used to diagnose a pericardial effusion

Question 6

How is pericarditis treated?

Answer 6

NSAIDs (aspirin and ibuprofen)
coaching (for 3 months to reduce recurrence)
steroids - 2nd line in recurrent cases or when caused by RA