Pericarditis—Adult

Pronounced: pair-e-kar-DI-tis

by Amy Scholten, MPH

Definition

Pericarditis is swelling and inflammation of the sac around the heart. This can make it hard for the heart to work as it should. It can range from mild to severe and life-threatening.

Pericarditis

Causes

The cause of pericarditis is often unknown. Some causes may be:

Infections from viruses, bacteria, fungi, or parasites
Heart attack
Inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus erythematosus
Cancer that has spread from a tumor near the heart
Kidney failure
Injury or surgery affecting the chest, esophagus, or heart
Radiation therapy
Certain medicines used to suppress the immune system

Risk Factors

The risk of pericarditis may be higher in people with immune system problems.

Symptoms

Symptoms of pericarditis may include:

Sharp, stabbing chest pain—worsens with breathing in or lying down
Problems breathing
Fever and chills
Fast heartbeats
Pain when swallowing
Weakness and tiredness

Diagnosis

The doctor will ask about symptoms and health history. A physical exam will be done. The doctor will listen for abnormal sounds in the heart or lung.

Images of the heart and chest will confirm the diagnosis. They may be taken with:

Chest x-ray
ECG —shows the electrical activity of the heart
Echocardiogram —shows how well the heart muscle is working
MRI scan or CT scan —detailed images of tissue in the chest

Other tests may be needed to find the cause. Tests may include:

Blood tests
Pericardiocentesis—test of fluid around the heart

Treatment

The main goal is to ease pain and swelling. If a cause is known, it will be treated as well.

Mild swelling will often pass in a few weeks or month. Care may include:

Rest
NSAID medicine to reduce swelling
Follow up with your doctor to check on progress

Severe swelling can be an emergency. It may make it hard for the heart to beat. Hospital care may be needed. Treatment may include:

Removing fluid from the heart sac. The fluid is removed with a needle.
Surgery to open the sac. This will ease pressure on the heart. This is a rare option.

Other inflammatory diseases raise the risk of pericarditis. It may last longer or tend to recur. A treatment plan will be made to help decrease the risk of more problems.

Prevention

There are no current guidelines to prevent pericarditis.

RESOURCES:

American Heart Association
http://www.heart.org

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

Health Canada
https://www.canada.ca

Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
http://www.heartandstroke.ca

References:

Acute and recurrent pericarditis. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/acute-and-recurrent-pericarditis. Accessed July 19, 2021.

Andreis A, Imazio M, et al. Contemporary diagnosis and treatment of recurrent pericarditis. Expert Rev Cardiovasc Ther. 2019;17(11):817-826.

What is pericarditis? American Heart Association website. Available at: https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/pericarditis/what-is-pericarditis#.WiAwZlWnFQI . Accessed July 19, 2021.

Last reviewed July 2021 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Michael J. Fucci, DO, FACC
Last Updated: 7/19/2021

EBSCO Information Services is fully accredited by URAC. URAC is an independent, nonprofit health care accrediting organization dedicated to promoting health care quality through accreditation, certification and commendation.

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

To send comments or feedback to our Editorial Team regarding the content please email us at healthlibrarysupport@ebsco.com. Our Health Library Support team will respond to your email request within 2 business days.