Systematization, diagnosis, and conservative treatment of pericarditis
M.A. Gurevich

M.V. Vladimirskiy Moscow Regional Scientific and Clinical Institute, Faculty of Postgraduate Education, Moscow, Russia

Scientific literature is lacking in published data on pericarditis. Meanwhile, these disorders are rather common in clinical practice. They are difficult to diagnose and differentiate and require different pathogenic therapy. A wide range of instrumental techniques and laboratory tests should be used to diagnose pericarditis. The paper describes in details diagnostic potentialities of various tests, i.e., electrocardiography, echocardiography, X-ray imaging, laboratory and other tests as well as some diagnostic algorithms. Classification of various types of pericarditis, their diagnosis and differentiation are discussed. The principles of conservative treatment of pericarditis (including urgent therapy) are summarized. The identification of etiological factors (tuberculosis, autoimmune and systemic disorders) allows specific treatment. In frequent recurrences, balloon pericardiotomy or pericardiectomy should be considered. The paper reviews the diagnosis and treatment of acute, chronic, and recurrent pericarditis. The principles of diagnosis of chronic and recurrent pericarditis are similar to that of acute pericarditis. Diagnostic and therapeutic modalities for postinfarction pericarditis (epistenocardiac pericarditis and Dressler's syndrome), cardiac tamponade, constrictive and effusive-constrictive pericarditis are described as well. 

Key words: pericarditis, myopericarditis, postinfarction syndrome, non-hormonal anti-inflammatory drugs, pericardial tap, constriction, tamponade. 

For citation: Gurevich M.A. Systematization, diagnosis, and conservative treatment of pericarditis // RMJ. Cardiology. 2016. № 9. P. 539–544.