Acute pericarditis

Acute pericarditis

An ECG showing pericarditis. Note the ST elevation in multiple leads with slight reciprocal ST depression in aVR.
Classification and external resources
Specialty cardiology
ICD-10 I30
ICD-9-CM 420
MedlinePlus 000182
eMedicine med/1781
MeSH C14.280.720

Acute pericarditis is a type of pericarditis (inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart, the pericardium) usually lasting less than 6 weeks. It is by far the most common condition affecting the pericardium.

Signs and symptoms

Chest pain is one of the common symptoms of acute pericarditis. It is usually of sudden onset, occurring in the anterior chest and often has a sharp quality that worsens with breathing in or coughing, due to inflammation of the pleural surface at the same time. The pain may be reduced with sitting up and leaning forward while worsened with lying down, and also may radiate to the back, to one or both trapezius ridges. However, the pain can also be dull and steady, resembling the chest pain in an acute myocardial infarction. As with any chest pain, other causes must also be ruled out, such as GERD, pulmonary embolism, muscular pain, etc.

A pericardial friction rub is a very specific sign of acute pericarditis, meaning the presence of this sign invariably indicates presence of disease. However, absence of this sign does not rule out disease. This rub can be best heard by the diaphragm of the stethoscope at the left sternal border arising as a squeaky or scratching sound, resembling the sound of leather rubbing against each other. This sound should be distinguished from the sound of a murmur, which is similar but sounds more like a "swish" sound than a scratching sound. The pericardial rub is said to be generated from the friction generated by the two inflamed layers of the pericardium; however, even a large pericardial effusion does not necessarily present a rub. The rub is best heard during the maximal movement of the heart within the pericardial sac, namely, during atrial systole, ventricular systole, and the filling phase of early ventricular diastole.

Fever may be present since this is an inflammatory process.

Causes

There are several causes of acute pericarditis.[1] In developed nations, the cause of most (80-90%) cases of acute pericarditis is unknown but a viral cause is suspected in the majority of such cases.[1] The other 10-20% of acute pericarditis cases have various causes including connective tissue diseases (e.g., systemic lupus erythematosus), cancer, or involve an inflammatory reaction of the pericardium following trauma to the heart such as after a heart attack such as Dressler's syndrome.[1] Familial mediterranean fever and TNF receptor associated periodic syndrome are rare inherited autoimmune diseases capable of causing recurring episodes of acute pericarditis.[1]

Pathophysiology

Clinical presentation of diseases of pericardium may vary between:[2][3]

Diagnosis

ECG showing slight ST elevation in many leads congruent with pericarditis

For acute pericarditis to formally be diagnosed, two or more of the following criteria must be present: chest pain consistent with a diagnosis of acute pericarditis (sharp chest pain worsened by breathing in or a cough), a pericardial friction rub, a pericardial effusion , and changes on electrocardiogram (ECG) consistent with acute pericarditis.[1]

A complete blood count may show an elevated white count and a serum C-reactive protein may be elevated. Acute pericarditis is associated with a modest increase in serum creatine kinase MB (CK-MB).[4] and cardiac troponin I (cTnI),[5][6] both of which are also markers for injury to the muscular layer of the heart. Therefore, it is imperative to also rule out acute myocardial infarction in the face of these biomarkers. The elevation of these substances may occur when inflammation of the heart's muscular layer in addition to acute pericarditis.[1] Also, ST elevation on EKG (see below) is more common in those patients with a cTnI > 1.5 µg/L.[6] Coronary angiography in those patients should indicate normal vascular perfusion. Troponin levels increase in 35-50% of people with pericarditis.[7]

Electrocardiogram (ECG) changes in acute pericarditis mainly indicates inflammation of the epicardium (the layer directly surrounding the heart), since the fibrous pericardium is electrically inert. For example, in uremia, there is no inflammation in the epicardium, only fibrin deposition, and therefore the EKG in uremic pericarditis will be normal. Typical EKG changes in acute pericarditis includes[4][8]

The two most common clinical conditions where ECG findings may mimic pericarditis are acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and generalized early repolarization.[9] As opposed to pericarditis, AMI usually causes localized convex ST-elevation usually associated with reciprocal ST-depression which may also be frequently accompanied by Q-waves, T-wave inversions (while ST is still elevated unlike pericarditis), arrhythmias and conduction abnormalities.[10] In AMI, PR-depressions are rarely present. Early repolarization usually occurs in young males (age <40 years) and ECG changes are characterized by terminal R-S slurring, temporal stability of ST-deviations and J-height/ T-amplitude ratio in V5 and V6 of <25% as opposed to pericarditis where terminal R-S slurring is very uncommon and J-height/ T-amplitude ratio is ≥ 25%. Very rarely, ECG changes in hypothermia may mimic pericarditis, however differentiation can be helpful by a detailed history and presence of an Osborne wave in hypothermia.[11]

Another important diagnostic electrocardiographic sign in acute pericarditis is the Spodick sign.[12] It signifies to the PR-depressions in a usual (but not always) association with downsloping TP segment in patients with acute pericarditis and is present in up to 80% of the patients affected with acute pericarditis. The sign is often best visualized in lead II and lateral precordial leads. In addition, Spodick’s sign may also serve as an important distinguishing electrocardiographic tool between the acute pericarditis and acute coronary syndrome. The presence of a classical Spodick’s sign is often a giveaway to the diagnosis.

Rarely, electrical alternans may be seen, depending on the size of the effusion.

A chest x-ray is usually normal in acute pericarditis, but can reveal the presence of an enlarged heart if a pericardial effusion is present and is greater than 200 mL in volume. Conversely, patients with unexplained new onset cardiomegaly should always be worked up for acute pericarditis.

An echocardiogram is typically normal in acute pericarditis but can reveal pericardial effusion, the presence of which supports the diagnosis, although its absence does not exclude the diagnosis.

Treatment

Patients with uncomplicated acute pericarditis can generally be treated and followed up in an outpatient clinic. However, those with high risk factors for developing complications (see above) will need to be admitted to an inpatient service, most likely an ICU setting. High risk patients include the following:[13]

Pericardiocentesis is a procedure whereby the fluid in a pericardial effusion is removed through a needle. It is performed under the following conditions:[14]

NSAIDs in viral or idiopathic pericarditis. In patients with underlying causes other than viral, the specific etiology should be treated. With idiopathic or viral pericarditis, NSAID is the mainstay treatment. Goal of therapy is to reduce pain and inflammation. The course of the disease may not be affected. The preferred NSAID is ibuprofen because of rare side effects, better effect on coronary flow, and larger dose range.[14] Depending on severity, dosing is between 300–800 mg every 6–8 hours for days or weeks as needed. An alternative protocol is aspirin 800 mg every 6–8 hours.[13] Dose tapering of NSAIDs may be needed. In pericarditis following acute myocardial infarction, NSAIDs other than aspirin should be avoided since they can impair scar formation. As with all NSAID use, GI protection should be engaged. Failure to respond to NSAIDs within one week (indicated by persistence of fever, worsening of condition, new pericardial effusion, or continuing chest pain) likely indicates that a cause other than viral or idiopathic is in process.

Colchicine, which has been essential to treat recurrent pericarditis, has been supported for routine use in acute pericarditis by recent prospective studies.[15] Colchicine can be given 0.6 mg twice a day (0.6 mg daily for patients <70 kg) for 3 months following an acute attack. It should be considered in all patients with acute pericarditis, preferably in combination with a short-course of NSAIDs.[9] For patients with a first episode of acute idiopathic or viral pericarditis, they should be treated with an NSAID plus colchicine 1–2 mg on first day followed by 0.5 daily or twice daily for three months.[16][17][18][19][20] It should be avoided or used with caution in patients with severe renal insufficiency, hepatobiliary dysfunction, blood dyscrasias, and gastrointestinal motility disorders.[9]

Corticosteroids are usually used in those cases that are clearly refractory to NSAIDs and colchicine and a specific cause has not been found. Systemic corticosteroids are usually reserved for those with autoimmune disease.[16]

Prognosis

One of the most feared complications of acute pericarditis is cardiac tamponade. Cardiac tamponade is accumulation of enough fluid in the pericardial space --- pericardial effusion --- to cause serious obstruction to the inflow of blood to the heart. Signs of cardiac tamponade include distended neck veins, muffled heart sounds when listening with a stethoscope, and low blood pressure (together known as Beck's triad).[1] This condition can be fatal if not immediately treated.

Another longer term complication of pericarditis, if it recurs over a longer period of time (normally more than 3 months), is progression to constrictive pericarditis. Recent studies have shown this to be an uncommon complication.[21] The definitive treatment for constrictive pericarditis is pericardial stripping, which is a surgical procedure where the entire pericardium is peeled away from the heart.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 LeWinter MM (December 2014). "Clinical practice. Acute pericarditis.". New England Journal of Medicine 371 (25): 2410–6. doi:10.1056/NEJMcp1404070. PMID 25517707.
  2. ↑ Imazio, M (May 2012). "Contemporary management of pericardial diseases.". Current Opinion in Cardiology 27 (3): 308–17. doi:10.1097/HCO.0b013e3283524fbe. PMID 22450720.
  3. ↑ Khandaker, MH; Espinosa, RE; Nishimura, RA; Sinak, LJ; Hayes, SN; Melduni, RM; Oh, JK (June 2010). "Pericardial disease: diagnosis and management.". Mayo Clinic proceedings. Mayo Clinic 85 (6): 572–93. doi:10.4065/mcp.2010.0046. PMC 2878263. PMID 20511488.
  4. 1 2 Spodick DH (2003). "Acute pericarditis: current concepts and practice". JAMA 289 (9): 1150–3. doi:10.1001/jama.289.9.1150. PMID 12622586.
  5. ↑ Bthere is a fondel onnefoy E, Godon P, Kirkorian G, Fatemi M, Chevalier P, Touboul P (2000). "Serum cardiac troponin I and ST-segment elevation in patients with acute pericarditis". Eur Heart J 21 (10): 832–6. doi:10.1053/euhj.1999.1907. PMID 10781355.
  6. 1 2 Imazio M, Demichelis B, Cecchi E, Belli R, Ghisio A, Bobbio M, Trinchero R (2003). "Cardiac troponin I in acute pericarditis". J Am Coll Cardiol 42 (12): 2144–8. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2003.02.001. PMID 14680742.
  7. ↑ Amal Mattu; Deepi Goyal; Barrett, Jeffrey W.; Joshua Broder; DeAngelis, Michael; Peter Deblieux; Gus M. Garmel; Richard Harrigan; David Karras; Anita L'Italien; David Manthey (2007). Emergency medicine: avoiding the pitfalls and improving the outcomes. Malden, Mass: Blackwell Pub./BMJ Books. p. 10. ISBN 1-4051-4166-2.
  8. ↑ Troughton RW, Asher CR, Klein AL (2004). "Pericarditis". Lancet 363 (9410): 717–27. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(04)15648-1. PMID 15001332.
  9. 1 2 3 Chhabra, Lovely (2014). Chhabra L, Spodick DH. Pericardial disease in the elderly. In: Aronow WS, Fleg JL, Rich MW, (ed.). Tresch and Aronow's Cardiovascular Disease in the Elderly. 5th ed. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. pp. 644–668. ISBN 1842145436.
  10. ↑ Chhabra, Lovely; Spodick, David H. "Ideal Isoelectric Reference Segment in Pericarditis: A Suggested Approach to a Commonly Prevailing Clinical Misconception". Cardiology 122 (4): 210–212. doi:10.1159/000339758.
  11. ↑ Chhabra, Lovely; Spodick, David H. "Hypothermia masquerading as pericarditis: an unusual electrocardiographic analogy". Journal of Electrocardiology 45 (4): 350–352. doi:10.1016/j.jelectrocard.2012.03.006.
  12. ↑ Chaubey, Vinod. "Spodick’s Sign: A Helpful Electrocardiographic Clue to the Diagnosis of Acute Pericarditis". The Permanente Journal: e122–e122. doi:10.7812/tpp/14-001.
  13. 1 2 Imazio M, Demichelis B, Parrini I, Giuggia M, Cecchi E, Gaschino G, Demarie D, Ghisio A, Trinchero R (2004). "Day-hospital treatment of acute pericarditis: a management program for outpatient therapy". J Am Coll Cardiol 43 (6): 1042–6. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2003.09.055. PMID 15028364.
  14. 1 2 Maisch B, Seferovic PM, Ristic AD, Erbel R, Rienmuller R, Adler Y, Tomkowski WZ, Thiene G, Yacoub MH (2004). "Guidelines on the diagnosis and management of pericardial diseases executive summary; The Task force on the diagnosis and management of pericardial diseases of the European Society of Cardiology". Eur Heart J 25 (7): 587–10. doi:10.1016/j.ehj.2004.02.002. PMID 15120056.
  15. ↑ "Sign In". doi:10.2146/ajhp140505. PMID 25404591. Retrieved 2015-12-22.
  16. 1 2 Chhabra, Lovely; Spodick, David H. (2013-11-05). "Letter by Chhabra and Spodick Regarding Article, "Treatment of Acute and Recurrent Idiopathic Pericarditis"". Circulation 128 (19): e391–e391. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.113.003737. ISSN 0009-7322. PMID 24190942.
  17. ↑ Chhabra, Lovely. "What we do not know about the role of colchicine in pericarditis in 2014". Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine 16 (2): 143–144. doi:10.2459/jcm.0000000000000225.
  18. ↑ Adler Y, Zandman-Goddard G, Ravid M, Avidan B, Zemer D, Ehrenfeld M, Shemesh J, Tomer Y, Shoenfeld Y (1994). "Usefulness of colchicine in preventing recurrences of pericarditis". Am J Cardiol 73 (12): 916–7. doi:10.1016/0002-9149(94)90828-1. PMID 8184826.
  19. ↑ Imazio M, Bobbio M, Cecchi E, Demarie D, Demichelis B, Pomari F, Moratti M, Gaschino G, Giammaria M, Ghisio A, Belli R, Trinchero R (2005). "Colchicine in addition to conventional therapy for acute pericarditis: results of the COlchicine for acute PEricarditis (COPE) trial". Circulation 112 (13): 2012–6. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.105.542738. PMID 16186437.
  20. ↑ Imazio M, Bobbio M, Cecchi E, Demarie D, Pomari F, Moratti M, Ghisio A, Belli R, Trinchero R (2005). "Colchicine as first-choice therapy for recurrent pericarditis: results of the CORE (COlchicine for REcurrent pericarditis) trial". Arch Intern Med 165 (17): 1987–91. doi:10.1001/archinte.165.17.1987. PMID 16186468.
  21. ↑ Shabetai R (September 2005). "Recurrent pericarditis: recent advances and remaining questions". Circulation 112 (13): 1921–3. doi:10.1161/circulationaha.105.569244. PMID 16186432.

Further reading

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