Acute Pericarditis
Cardiovascular · ~11% of blueprint- Pathophysiology
- Inflammation of the pericardium; most viral/idiopathic. Also post-MI (Dressler), uremia, autoimmune, TB, malignancy.
- Signs & Symptoms
- Sharp pleuritic chest pain, better leaning forward / worse supine; pericardial friction rub.
- Gold Standard Diagnosis
- Clinical + ECG: diffuse ST elevation with PR depression. Echo to assess for effusion/tamponade.
- First-line Treatment
- NSAIDs (aspirin if post-MI) + colchicine; treat the underlying cause.
High-Yield Pearl
Diffuse ST elevation + PR depression distinguishes it from regional STEMI. Watch for tamponade: Beck triad (↓BP, JVD, muffled sounds) + pulsus paradoxus.
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Sources
Reviewed September 2026- 2015 ESC Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of pericardial diseases — European Society of Cardiology, 2015
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