Pericarditis
Medical Author: Benjamin C. Wedro, MD, FAAEM
Medical Editors: Daniel
Kulick, MD, FACC, FSCAI and William C. Shiel, Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
What is pericarditis?
The hearts sits in the center of the chest and is surrounded by a sac called the pericardium. This sac has two layers, one that fits tightly onto the heart muscle and another looser layer surrounding the inner layer. Inflammation of these tissue layers surrounding the heart is referred to as pericarditis.
What causes pericarditis?
There are many causes of pericarditis. Most often the cause is unknown. Causes of pericarditis are listed below:
Idiopathic
- The cause of the illness is not identified (although often it's the result of a minor viral illness or
"cold")
Mechanical injury to the heart
Infection
Bacterial
Tumors or cancer
Connective Tissue Disease
Metabolic diseases
Medication Reactions
- Side effects of certain medications can cause an immune response causing an inflammation of the pericardial sac and pericarditis. Medicines that have been implicated include
phenytoin (Dilantin),
hydralazine (Apresoline) and procainamide
(Pronestyl, Procan-SR, Procanbid).
Next: What are the symptoms of pericarditis? »
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