How do you treat pericarditis?

Answer 1

Generally, treatment is conservative if the patient is young and otherwise healthy. An echocardiogram will frequently be performed at some point to ensure there is not a large pericardial effusion that needs to be drained. If the patient has a chronic autoimmune disease, such as Rheumatoid arthritis or Lupus erythematosus, pericardial effusions along with pericarditis are more common. If the person is elderly, or has a history of prior malignancy, more of a workup may be undertaken to ensure the pericarditis is not actually a manifestation of a metastatic lesion.

For uncomplicated pericarditis, frequently caused by a viral infection, the treatment is rest and nonsteroidal analgesics, such as ibuprofen or indomethacin. For other causes of pericarditis, the underlying cause must be treated.

Answer:

Diagnosis of pericarditis:

Echocardiogram

EKG

Elevated white blood cell count

Elevated sedimentation rate

Elevated C-Reactive Protein or CRP

Cardiac enzymes are evaluated for myocarditis or myocardial infarction, troponin is elevated in some patients

Evaluate thyroid function

Chest x-ray

MRI

Treatment:

Bed rest

High dose non-steroidal analgesics, such as ibuprofen (Advil and Motrin). Typical dose is 600 mg two to four times a day depending on the severity of the condition.

Colchicine 1 - 2 tablets/day

If the ibuprofen and colchicine are used together, the chances of a recurrence are lessened.

Hospitalization maybe necessary if complications of pericarditis exist such as pericardial effusion and atrial fibrillation.

Answer 2

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, analgesics (aspirin) and diuretics. Corticosteroids, if the pericarditis was caused by a heart attack or systemic lupus erythematosus.