Constrictive pericarditis differential diagnosis

Template:Pericardial constriction Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Constrictive pericarditis must be differentiated from restrictive cardiomyopathy. The evaluation of ventricular interdependence between the two ventricles is the best objective method to distinguish the two syndromes.

Ventricular Interdependence

Ventricular interdependence is assessed in the cardiac catheterization laboratory. In this test, the systolic pressure generated in the left ventricle is compared to that in the right ventricle during inspiration. During inspiration, there is negative intrathoracic pressure, and increased filling of the right ventricle.

Constriction

With inspiration, there is increased filling of the right ventricle and given that it is constrained by the pericardium, the systolic pressure in the right ventricle rises. There is bulging of the septum into the left ventricle, and reduced filling of the left ventricle, and therefore the pressure drops in the left ventricle. The RV enlarges, and the LV gets smaller during inspiration.

Complete Differential Diagnosis

In many cases, constrictive pericarditis is a late sequela of an inflammatory condition of the pericardium. The inflammatory condition is usually an infection that involves the pericardium, but it may be after a heart attack or after heart surgery.

Almost half the cases of constrictive pericarditis in the developing world are idiopathic in origin. In regions where tuberculosis is common, it is the cause in a large portion of cases.

Several conditions produce signs and symptoms that are similar to those generated by pericarditis, including life threatening conditions such as myocardial infarction, aortic dissection and pulmonary embolism. The conditions with similar symptoms to constrictive pericarditis include:

• Amyloidosis
• Atrial Myxoma
• Cardiac Cirrhosis
• Cardiac Neoplasms, Primary
• Caridac Sarcoma
• Cardiac Tamponade
• Cardiomyopathy, Dilated
• Cardiomayopathy, Restrictive
• Hemochromatosis
• Nephrotic Syndrome
• Ovarian Cancer
• Pericardial Effusion
• Pericarditis, Acute
• Pericarditis, Constrictive-Effusive
• Pericarditis, Uremic
• Sarcoidosis
• Superior Vena Cava Syndrome
• Tricuspid Regurgitation
• Tricuspid Stenosis
• Uremia