[The role of pericardial pathology in internal medicine]

In the multiple pathology of a non-specialised patient group in internal medicine, 1,2% presented with a pericardial disorder. The true occurrence rate of pericarditis is in fact much higher since if the cases where pericarditis is found only at autopsy are taken into consideration, pericardial involvement is found in almost 10% (this figure is higher, for obvious aetiological reasons, than that for non-fatal peridarditis). The improvement in obtaining a positive diagnosis of pericarditis is obvious when a study carried out ten years ago is reviewed. Finally, comparison of the aetiological types in our study with those seen in cardiology services shows important differences and takes account of the special nature of pericardial pathology in general medicine and the interest of its study.