title: [Long term evolution of chronic constrictive pericarditis. A study of 56 patients].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We retrospectively analysed 56 consecutive patients with a confirmed diagnosis of chronic constrictive pericarditis over a period of 23 years. The objective was to analyse the evolution of the annual frequency of constrictive pericarditis, its aetiology and to define the prognostic factors for mortality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The annual frequency of constrictive pericarditis has not diminished over the 23 years of this study, remaining at 2.4 cases per year. Cases with a tuberculous origin have diminished progressively, being replaced by complications of cardiac surgery and mediastinal radiotherapy. Pericardectomy was performed in 41 patients and the average follow up was 9.5 +/- 8.6 years. By the end of the study, 34 patients had died (61.8%), 18 from a cardiovascular cause (38.3%). The independent predictive factors for overall mortality were a history of mediastinal radiotherapy, the age, and plasma sodium level. Only the presence of first degree atrio-ventricular block was an independent predictive factor for cardiovascular mortality. In the pericardectomy group, 24 patients died (60%). A history of mediastinal radiotherapy and the presence of pre-operative hyponatraemia were independent predictive factors for overall mortality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Constrictive pericarditis remains a serious pathology. Pericardectomy allows a clear functional improvement, but following pericardectomy more than 60% of patients will die within 10 years of the diagnosis being made.
authors.affiliation: Service de cardiologie, CHU, Angers.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thia
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Prunier
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Subayi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Baufreton
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Geslin
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Furber
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006327:Heart Block / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D007010:Hyponatremia / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008482:Mediastinum / Q000528:radiation effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D010492:Pericardiectomy; D010494:Pericarditis, Constrictive / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies