Etiology of pericardial disease

Ralph Shabetai, MD
G Ralph Corey, MD

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INTRODUCTION The pericardium may be involved in a large number of systemic disorders or may be diseased as an isolated process. The principal manifestations of pericardial disease are pericarditis and pericardial effusion. While these are distinct phenomena, most patients with pericardial disease present with both manifestations to a greater or lesser degree. In some cases, the clinical presentation of acute pericardial inflammation predominates, and the presence of excess pericardial fluid is clinically unimportant. In other cases, the effusion and its clinical consequences are of primary importance. (See "Evaluation and management of acute pericarditis" and see "Diagnosis and treatment of pericardial effusion"). Read more...

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