title: [Clinical finding and follow-up of chronic constrictive pericarditis].
abstract: The aim of this study was to describe the etiology, clinical findings, diagnostic methods, treatment, outcome and long-term prognosis of 35 patients with chronic constrictive pericarditis (CCP) that were prospectively analyzed according to a pericardial disease protocol performed in our Institution. Etiology of CCP was idiopathic in 24 patients (68%), and specific in 11 (32%). The majority (34 patients, 97%) underwent pericardiectomy. Perioperative mortality was 12% (4/33) no deaths were registered among patients with idiopathic CCP. Median follow-up was 5.6 years (percentile 25-75: 2.4-7.4 years). The cumulative actuarial survival probability was 97% at 1 year (confidence interval [CI] 80% to 99%); 83% at 5 years, (95% CI 65% to 93%); 78% at 7 years, (95% CI 60% to 90%), and 69% at 10 years (95% CI 50% to 84%). In conclusion, nowadays CCP is generally an idiopathic disease with late diagnosis. The clinical course of the disease produces severe symptoms of congestive heart failure. In a 10 years follow-up 2/3 of patients are alive and improved their quality of life. Idiopathic form of pericarditis did not show mortality during early postoperative period.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitario Fundación Favaloro, Buenos Aires. msantos@ffavaloro.org
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: José H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Casabe
authors.forename: Eduardo D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Gabe
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vigliano
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Abud
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Guevara
authors.forename: Roberto R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Favaloro
authors.forename: Enrique P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Gurkinfel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010492:Pericardiectomy; D010494:Pericarditis, Constrictive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult