Constrictive pericarditis in a contemporary Danish cohort: Aetiology and outcome. (April 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Landex, Nadia Lander; Ihlemann, Nikolaj; Olsen, Peter Skov; Gustafsson, Finn
• Is Part Of: Scandinavian cardiovascular journal. Volume 49:Number 2(2015:Apr.)
• Page Start: 101
• Page End: 108
• Publication Date: 2015-04
• Subjects: Cardiovascular system -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 617.41
• DOI: 10.3109/14017431.2015.1014406
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1401-7431

Abstract

<abstract> <title>Abstract</title> <p> <italic>Objectives</italic>. The aetiology and outcome of constrictive pericarditis vary between geographic regions and has changed over time. We describe the diagnostic work-up and outcome in a contemporary cohort of Danish patients with constrictive pericarditis. <italic>Design</italic>. Hospital databases were searched for patients undergoing cardiac catheterisation for suspected constrictive pericarditis or for patients undergoing pericardiectomy or discharged with the diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis. <italic>Results</italic>. We identified 57 patients with constrictive pericarditis diagnosed from 1998 to 2012. Previous surgery and inflammatory disease were the most prevalent underlying conditions. Diagnosis was made primarily by echocardiography and right- and left-sided cardiac catheterisation. Echocardiography was particularly notable for dilated inferior caval vein, increased E/A ratio, and high septal tissue velocity in addition to the presence of septal bounce. Pericardiectomy was performed in 47 patients with a 30-day mortality of 8.5%. Clinical improvement was noted in 69% of cases. Several echocardiographic parameters normalised with time, including markers of diastolic function. <italic>Conclusions</italic>. Long-term outcome after pericardiectomy is acceptable with clinical improvement and partial resolution of the echocardiographic parameters in the majority of patients.</p> </abstract>