Pericarditis Specialists in Karnataka

What is Pericarditis?

Pericarditis is inflammation of the pericardium, the thin double-layered sac that surrounds and protects the heart, most often causing sharp chest pain that characteristically worsens with lying down or deep breathing and improves when sitting forward. It can occur as an isolated acute episode, frequently following a viral infection, or become recurrent or chronic in some individuals. The inflammation can sometimes cause fluid to accumulate between the layers of the pericardium, known as a pericardial effusion, which in significant amounts can impair the heart's ability to fill and pump blood effectively. Most cases of acute pericarditis are mild and resolve within a few weeks with appropriate anti-inflammatory treatment. Rarely, pericarditis can lead to serious complications such as cardiac tamponade or constrictive pericarditis, which require urgent specialist intervention.

Causes of Pericarditis

Most commonly caused by viral infections, though it can also result from bacterial infections, autoimmune conditions such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, kidney failure, or occur following a heart attack or cardiac surgery. In many cases, particularly mild acute episodes, no specific cause is identified and the condition is presumed to be viral or idiopathic. Certain medications and radiation therapy to the chest can also trigger pericardial inflammation.

Symptoms of Pericarditis

Sharp or stabbing chest pain that worsens with lying down or breathing deeply, chest pain relieved by sitting up and leaning forward, low-grade fever, palpitations, shortness of breath, fatigue, dry cough, swelling in the legs in severe cases

Treatment & Types of Pericarditis in Karnataka

Treatment for acute pericarditis typically involves nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications and colchicine to reduce inflammation and prevent recurrence, with rest recommended during the acute phase. Corticosteroids may be used in cases that do not respond to first-line treatment or when other therapies are contraindicated. Significant pericardial effusion causing compression of the heart requires urgent drainage, while chronic constrictive pericarditis may ultimately require surgical removal of the pericardium.

Pericarditis is classified as acute, a single isolated episode usually following a viral infection, or recurrent and chronic, when episodes repeat or inflammation persists beyond several weeks. A rare but serious long-term complication, constrictive pericarditis, occurs when the pericardium becomes thickened and stiff, restricting the heart's ability to fill properly and often requiring surgical removal of the pericardium.

Cardiology Specialists in Karnataka (1)

Frequently Asked Questions