Pericarditis
Last updated: Friday, 21, January, 2011
| Key Information | Appropriate Tests |
|---|---|
Infection | |
Viral infection
| Throat swab, faeces - virus detection, culture. Enterovirus antibodies are not useful clinically. |
Bacterial infection
| Microscopy and culture (including AFB) of pericardial fluid. See Tuberculosis |
Protozoal infection, especially
|
See Amoebiasis |
Immune disorders | |
Connective tissue diseases, especially | |
Post-myocardial infarction | Myocardial antibodies are not clinically useful. |
Post-cardiotomy syndrome | Myocardial antibodies are not clinically useful. |
Malignant invasion | Pericardial fluid - cytology, protein, microscopy and culture; pericardial biopsy occasionally helpful. |
Carcinoma (metastatic) | |
Other | |
Post-irradiation | |