The following are the most important diseases or complications that can be caused by pericarditis (inflammation of the heart sac):
Cardiovascular system (I00-I99)
- Chronic pericarditis
- Chronic constrictive pericarditis – scarring remodeling (fibrosis and calcification) of the pericardium (<1%).
- Pericardial tamponade (pericardial tamponade) (wg exudative pericarditis, effusion amount greater than 400 ml; absolute emergency: there is a threat of cardiogenic shock!)
- Pericardial effusion (pericardial effusion).
- Recurrence of pericarditis (recurrence of pericarditis) – recurrence rate after first event 30% within 18 months; increases to 50% after first recurrence.
Symptoms and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings (R00-R99).
- Ascites (abdominal dropsy)
Prognostic factors
- Body temperature > 38 °C (if other warning signs are present, reason for hospitalization and pericardiocentesis/puncture of the pericardium (heart sac) for the purpose of fluid removal)
- Subacute course (course, which is located between acute and chronic).
- Pericardial effusion > 20 mm
- Concomitant myocarditis (accompanying inflammation of the heart muscle).
- Immunosuppression
- Oral anticoagulation (medication to inhibit blood clotting).
- Trauma (injury)
- Treatment failure after 7 days of treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
