aetiology of pericarditis
Last reviewed 01/2018
Pericarditis is common. The most common cause is viral - particularly coxsackie viruses.
Other causes include:
- myocardial infarction, including Dressler's syndrome
- pyogenic - pneumonia or septicaemia
- renal failure - severe uraemia
- tuberculosis
- hypothyroidism
- hyperuricaemia
- trauma
- rheumatic fever
- connective tissue disorders - systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, polyarteritis nodosum
- cancer invading the pericardium - breast or bronchus
- endomyocardial fibrosis
- radiotherapy
- post cardiotomy syndrome
- drugs:
- procainamide
- hydralazine