[Pericarditis: classification, etiology, pathogenesis]

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Pathology
• Internal Medicine

Background:

• Pericardial diseases, particularly inflammations, are frequently observed in autopsy studies but less recognized in surviving patients.
• Common etiologies include infections (viral, bacterial, tuberculous), systemic inflammatory conditions, myocardial infarction, trauma, neoplasms, and iatrogenic factors.
• Viral infections are the most common cause of infectious pericarditis, with a significant portion of idiopathic cases likely sharing this etiology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the epidemiology and diverse etiologies of pericardial diseases.
• To highlight the diagnostic challenges and varying prognoses associated with different causes of pericarditis.
• To emphasize the increasing incidence of iatrogenic pericarditis and its contributing factors.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on pericardial diseases.
• Analysis of etiological factors and clinical presentations.
• Comparison of diagnostic frequency between clinical and autopsy findings.

Main Results:

• Viral pericarditis is common, while bacterial pericarditis has high mortality and progression to chronic constrictive pericarditis.
• Tuberculous pericarditis frequently leads to constrictive pericarditis, even with treatment.
• Iatrogenic pericarditis, including post-cardiotomy syndrome and complications from procedures or therapies, is increasingly recognized.

Conclusions:

• Pericarditis presents with diverse causes and clinical outcomes, necessitating accurate etiological diagnosis.
• Prompt recognition and management are crucial, especially for high-mortality conditions like bacterial and tuberculous pericarditis.
• The rise in iatrogenic pericarditis underscores the importance of monitoring complications from medical interventions.