Kommentar zu den 2015-Leitlinien der Europäischen Gesellschaft für Kardiologie (ESC) zu Perikarderkrankungen

[What's new in pericardial disease?]

Pericardial disease represents a large diversity of inflammation related injury of the pericardium. Multifactorial causes may contribute to acute and recurrent pericarditis, pericardial effusion without major hemodynamic compromise, cardiac tamponade or constrictive pericarditis. Currently, inflammatory pericardial pathologies are observed in cases of SARS-CoV-2-infection or after vaccination. Beside established anti-inflammatory therapeutic strategies with NSAID, corticosteroids and colchicine, auto-inflammation and inflammasomes seam to offer more specific targets for advanced treatment options.

[Management of pericarditis and pericardial effusion, constrictive and effusive-constrictive pericarditis]

This CME review takes stock of the progress in the etiology, pathophysiology, diagnostics and treatment of pericarditis and pericardial effusion brought about by the publication of the 2nd European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines on the management of pericardial diseases in 2015. It also emphasizes special forms, which have received less attention in the past, such as therapy-refractory (incessant), effusive-constrictive and constrictive pericarditis and the treatment of acute and recurrent pericarditis with colchicine. After the diagnosis of pericarditis with or without effusion has been made, the first step is to clarify its etiology, which affects the clinical symptoms, course, treatment and the prognosis. In this aspect the requirements of the guidelines and the reality of an etiological classification of pericardial diseases diverge in many cases. The diagnosis of "idiopathic" acute or recurrent pericarditis is still much too often the result of insufficient efforts to find the cause. Too often only malignant and bacterial forms are excluded. If the etiology is known local intrapericardial treatment with the already inserted pigtail catheter from the diagnostic pericardial puncture can be carried out with few systemic side effects. The 2015 ESC guidelines recommend colchicine as first line treatment in all forms of pericarditis except for neoplastic pericardial effusion. It accelerates healing and reduces the frequency of recurrence of pericarditis but cannot eliminate recurrence completely. The best treatment and prevention of recurrence is the eradication of the underlying etiological cause.

Braun-Dullaeus R. Cardiogenic Causes of Fever

BACKGROUND

Persistent fever of unknown cause is only rarely of cardiac origin, but heart disease must be considered in the differential diagnosis. Aside from endocarditis, pericarditis and various other conditions may be responsible.

METHODS

This review is based on pertinent articles retrieved by a selective search in PubMed and Google Scholar employing the term "fever" in combination with "myocardial infarction," "pericarditis," "endocarditis," and "postcardiac injury," with additional consideration of current cardiological guidelines.

RESULTS

Endocarditis is associated with fever in 90% of cases, but 25-50% of patients also develop high body temperatures after acute myocardial infarction. In pericarditis, a temperature above 38°C indicates a poorer prognosis; if accompanied by other warning signs, it is an indication for hospitalization and pericardiocentesis. Fever can arise after cardiac surgical procedures as a manifestation of post - cardiotomy syndrome, a special type of perimyocarditis. There may be a latency period of up to 3 months.

CONCLUSION

Fever can have both infectious and non-infectious cardiac causes. Its interpretation depends on the clinical context. The evidence base for treatment is sparse, and controlled trials are needed.