Constrictive pericarditis medical therapy
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Constrictive Pericarditis Microchapters |
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Differentiating Constrictive Pericarditis from other Diseases |
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Treatment |
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Case Studies |
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Constrictive pericarditis medical therapy On the Web |
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American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Constrictive pericarditis medical therapy |
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Risk calculators and risk factors for Constrictive pericarditis medical therapy |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]{{MUTT}
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Overview
Pericardial constriction is a progressive disease without spontaneous reversal of the pericardial thickening. Some patients can be medically managed for several years. Edema can be controlled with diuretics and slowing of the heart rate can maximize the diastolic filling time. Most patients eventually develop significant debility from impaired cardiac output and elevated right and left sided filling pressures.
A few case series since 1987 have mentioned transient Constrictive Pericarditis that appears to be associated with Pericardial inflammation. The use of Cardiac MRI has made it possible to identify pericardial inflammation with the use of late gadolinium enhancement. This particular type of Constrictive Pericarditis can be treated with anti-inflammatory therapy and prevent its progression to irreversible disease requiring pericardiectomy.