Current and emerging strategies for the treatment of acute pericarditis: a systematic review

Samar Sheth¹, Dee Dee Wang³, Christos Kasapis^2
1Department of Internal Medicine, ²Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; ³Henry Ford Hospital, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA

Abstract: Pericarditis is a common disorder that has multiple causes and presents in various primary-care and secondary-care settings. It is diagnosed in 0.1% of all hospital admissions and in 5% of emergency room visits for chest pain. Despite the advance of new diagnostic techniques, pericarditis is most commonly idiopathic, and radiation therapy, cardiac surgery, and percutaneous procedures have become important causes. Pericarditis is frequently benign and self-limiting. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents remain the first-line treatment for uncomplicated cases. Integrated use of new imaging methods facilitates accurate detection and management of complications such as pericardial effusion or constriction. In this article, we perform a systematic review on the etiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic evaluation, and management of acute pericarditis. We summarize current evidence on contemporary and emerging treatment strategies.

Keywords: pericarditis, pericardial disease, treatment strategies