title: Prognosis of idiopathic recurrent pericarditis as determined from previously published reports.
abstract: After a systematic review of all publications on recurrent pericarditis from 1966 to 2006, we identified 8 major clinical series including a total of 230 patients with idiopathic recurrent pericarditis (mean age 46 years, men/women ratio: 0.9). After a mean follow-up of 61 months, the complication rate was 3.5% cardiac tamponade and 0% constrictive pericarditis and left ventricular dysfunction. The overall life prognosis is excellent in idiopathic recurrent pericarditis and complications are uncommon. In conclusion constrictive pericarditis was never reported despite numerous recurrences, and the risk is lower than in idiopathic acute pericarditis (approximately 1%). Thus, it is important to reassure patients on their prognosis, explaining the nature of the disease, and the likely course. Therapeutic choices should take into account of the overall good outcome of these patients, including less toxic agents.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, Ospedale Maria Vittoria, Torino, Italy. massimo_imazio@yahoo.it
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Imazio
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brucato
authors.forename: Yehuda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Adler
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brambilla
authors.forename: Galit
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Artom
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cecchi
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Palmieri
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Trinchero
mesh_terms: D002305:Cardiac Tamponade / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010493:Pericarditis / Q000150:complications*; D010494:Pericarditis, Constrictive / Q000209:etiology; D011379:Prognosis; D012008:Recurrence; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000209:etiology