II. Causes: Common
- Idiopathic (Most common cause)
-
Viral Infection (esp. Coxsackievirus)
- Post-Viral Pericarditis is the most common cause (up to 80% to 90% of cases) in the developed world
- Often labeled as idiopathic Pericarditis (but suspected to be viral)
- Post-MI Pericarditis
- Uremic Pericarditis
- Medication Causes of Pericarditis
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
-
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
- See Tuberculous Pericarditis
- Most common cause in developing countries
III. Causes: Infection
- Viral (common)
- Adenovirus
- Coxsackievirus (Most common viral cause)
- Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
- Echovirus
- Epstein-Barr Virus (Mononucleosis)
- Human Herpesvirus 6
- Influenza
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome or AIDS (occurs in 20% of AIDS Cases)
- Mumps Virus
- MeaslesVirus
- Viral Hepatitis
- Varicella Virus
-
Bacterial (Purulent Pericarditis, <5% of cases overall, <1% of cases in western europe and U.S.)
- Coxiella Burnetii (most common of the nontuberculous purulent causes)
- Borelia Burgdorferi (most common of the nontuberculous purulent causes)
- Staphylococcus aureus (high mortality)
- Empyema with direct spread or hematogenous spread in children
- Streptococcus Pneumoniae
- More common prior to current Immunizations in U.S.
- HaemophilusInfluenzae
- More common prior to current Immunizations in U.S.
- Mycobacterium tuberculosis (mortality approaches 85% for untreated cases)
- See Tuberculous Pericarditis
- Most common cause in developing countries
- Salmonella
- Meningococcus
- Syphilis
- Whipple Disease
- Rickettsia
- Fungal
- Parasites
IV. Causes: Cardiovascular
- Thoracic Aortic Dissection
- Post-cardiac procedures (e.g. PTCA, Cardiac Ablation, Pacemaker placement)
- Chest Trauma
-
Myocardial Infarction
- Acute Myocardial Infarction (in first 2-4 days following event)
- Post-MI Syndrome (Dressler's Syndrome, occurs in weeks to months following event)
V. Causes: Malignancy
- Malignant Pericardial Effusion: 15% of cancer patients
- Metastatic
- Breast Cancer (most common)
- Lung Cancer (most common)
- Leukemia
- Lymphoma
- Malignant Melanoma
- Primary
- Cancer treatment complications
- Chest radiation
- Chemotherapy
VI. Causes: Autoimmune Disorders
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Sarcoidosis
- Dermatomyositis
- Scleroderma
- Polyarteritis Nodosa
- Vasculitis
- Ankylosing Spondylitis
- Rheumatic Fever
- Celiac Sprue
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (previously known as Wegener's Granulomatosis)
- Familial mediterranean fever
VII. Causes: Miscellaneous causes
VIII. References
- Klasek and Alblaihed (2023) Crit Dec Emerg Med 37(6): 4-11
- Ariyarajah (2007) Cardiol Rev 15(1): 24-30 [PubMed]
- Imazio (2007) Int J Cardiol 118(3): 286-94 [PubMed]
- Lange (2004) N Engl J Med 351:2195-202 [PubMed]
- Synder (2014) Am Fam Physician 89(7): 553-60 [PubMed]
- Tingle (2007) Am Fam Physician 76: 1509-14 [PubMed]
- Troughton (2004) Lancet 363: 717-27 [PubMed]