title: Constrictive pericarditis, still a diagnostic challenge: comprehensive review of clinical management.
abstract: The diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis (CP) continues to be a challenge in the modern era. Understanding the pathophysiology and integrating the results of invasive and non-invasive techniques are important in the differential diagnosis of CP and e.g. restrictive cardiomyopathy. New echocardiographic techniques such as tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) and 2D-speckle tracking, dual-source CT (computed tomographic imaging) and especially tagged cine-MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) with the analysis of phase contrast angiography sequences are promising novel approaches. Pericardiectomy in experienced centers with complete decortication (if technically feasible) is the treatment of choice for CP and it results in symptomatic relief in most patients. However, some patients may not benefit from pericardiectomy and this may be due to myocardial compliance abnormalities, myocardial atrophy after prolonged constriction, residual constriction or other myocardial processes. An important predictor of long-term outcome after pericardiectomy is the etiology of the pericardial disease. The overall mortality in the current literature is nearly 5-6%. Survival with post-surgical CP is worse than with idiopathic CP, but significantly better than with post-radiation CP.
authors.affiliation: Helios Klinikum Erfurt, Department of Cardiology, Nordhaeuser Strasse 74, D-99089 Erfurt, Germany.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schwefer
authors.forename: Rene
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Aschenbach
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heidemann
authors.forename: Celia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mey
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lapp
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler / Q000379:methods; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood; D010494:Pericarditis, Constrictive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain