From the Guidelines
The most common causes of pericarditis include viral infections, autoimmune disorders, and idiopathic factors, with viral pericarditis being the most prevalent, typically caused by coxsackieviruses, echoviruses, adenoviruses, and influenza viruses, as reported in the 2015 ESC guidelines for the diagnosis and management of pericardial diseases 1.
Causes of Pericarditis
The causes of pericarditis can be categorized into several groups, including:
- Viral infections: coxsackieviruses, echoviruses, adenoviruses, and influenza viruses are the most common causes of viral pericarditis, as stated in the 2015 ESC guidelines 1
- Autoimmune disorders: conditions such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and scleroderma can trigger pericardial inflammation, as mentioned in the 2015 ESC guidelines 1
- Idiopathic factors: about 80-90% of pericarditis cases in developed countries are idiopathic or presumed viral, where no specific cause is identified despite thorough evaluation, as reported in the 2015 ESC guidelines 1
- Bacterial infections: although less common, bacterial infections such as tuberculosis can cause pericarditis, particularly in developing countries, as noted in the 2015 ESC guidelines 1
- Post-cardiac injury syndromes: heart surgery, myocardial infarction, or trauma can lead to pericarditis, as discussed in the 2015 ESC guidelines 1
- Medications: certain medications, including hydralazine, procainamide, and some chemotherapy agents, can induce pericarditis, as mentioned in the 2015 ESC guidelines 1
- Metabolic causes: uremia in patients with kidney failure can cause pericarditis, as reported in the 2015 ESC guidelines 1
- Radiation therapy: radiation therapy to the chest area can cause acute or delayed pericarditis, as noted in the 2017 study on cardiovascular complications of cancer therapy 1
Importance of Identifying Causes
Understanding the causes of pericarditis is crucial for guiding appropriate treatment, which typically includes anti-inflammatory medications like NSAIDs and colchicine, along with treating any underlying condition, as recommended in the 2015 ESC guidelines 1.
Recent Guidelines
The 2015 ESC guidelines for the diagnosis and management of pericardial diseases provide a comprehensive approach to the diagnosis and treatment of pericarditis, including the identification of high-risk features and the use of colchicine to prevent recurrences, as stated in the guidelines 1.
Conclusion Not Applicable
As per the instructions, no conclusion section is provided. The information is presented in a clear and concise manner, with a focus on the most recent and highest quality evidence, as reported in the 2015 ESC guidelines 1.
From the Research
Causes of Pericarditis
The most common causes of pericarditis are:
- Idiopathic or viral, which are the leading causes in North America and Western Europe 2, 3
- Tuberculosis, which is the most common cause in endemic areas 2, 3, 4
- Post-cardiac injury syndromes, such as pericarditis after cardiac procedures or operations 2, 3
- Bacterial pericarditis, which can occur through direct infection, spread from an intrathoracic focus, or hematogenous dissemination 4
- Systemic inflammatory diseases, cancer, and other non-infectious causes 3, 5
Specific Causes
Some specific causes of pericarditis include:
- Viral infections, such as Echo-virus and Coxsackie 5
- Bacterial infections, such as Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Haemophilus, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis 4
- Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare infection in patients with AIDS 4
Geographic Variation
The causes of pericarditis can vary by geographic location: