Pericarditis: Test and Diagnosis

1st-order laboratory parameters-obligatory laboratory tests.

  • Small blood count [leukocytes (white blood cells) ↑]
  • Inflammatory parameters – CRP (C-reactive protein) or ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) [CRP ↑ or ESR ↑]
  • Creatinine phosphokinase (CK), especially the isoenzyme MB (CK-MB), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) – as specific markers of cardiac ischemia.
  • Highly sensitive cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) or troponin I (hs-cTnI) – in suspected myocardial infarction (heart attack).

Laboratory parameters 2nd order – depending on the results of the history, physical examination and the obligatory laboratory parameters – for differential diagnostic clarification.

  • Anti-smooth muscle/cardiac tissue antibodies – for suspected Dressler syndrome (synonyms: postmyocardial infarction syndrome, postcardiotomy syndrome): several weeks (1-6 weeks) after a myocardial infarction (heart attack) or An injury to the myocardium (heart muscle) occurring pericarditis (pericarditis) and / or pleurisy (pleurisy) as a late immunological reaction at the pericardium (heart bag) after the formation of heart muscle antibodies (HMA).
  • Virological examination – if viral infection is suspected.
  • Bacteriological examination – if bacterial infection is suspected.
  • Mycological examination – if mycotic infection is suspected.
  • Specific antibodies (see, for example, in collagenoses, ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis) – if autoimmune diseases are suspected.
  • Thyroid parameters – TSH, fT3, fT4 – if hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) is suspected.