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Aetiology of pericarditis

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Pericarditis is common. The most common cause is viral - particularly coxsackie viruses.

Other causes include:

  • myocardial infarction, including Dressler's syndrome
  • pyogenic - pneumonia or septicaemia
  • renal failure - severe uraemia
  • tuberculosis
  • hypothyroidism
  • hyperuricaemia
  • trauma
  • rheumatic fever
  • connective tissue disorders - systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, polyarteritis nodosum
  • cancer invading the pericardium - breast or bronchus
  • endomyocardial fibrosis
  • radiotherapy
  • post cardiotomy syndrome
  • drugs:
    • procainamide
    • hydralazine

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