Re: Recurrent pericarditis

Posted By CCF CARDIO MD-APS on January 21, 1999 at 11:22:54:

In Reply to: Recurrent pericarditis posted by Helen on January 19, 1999 at 06:13:23:






Dear Doc, I think you have forgotten to look at my question dated 1/15/99 - Pericarditis. Would you be able to go back and look at it please as I am very interested to hear your opinion on my problem. Also, I have another question. What happens if inflammatory pericarditis (not viral or bacterial) with a friction rub continues untreated or is not responding to treatment, does this cause any further or long term problems? What is a reasonable time of recovery before anything further happens. I do not know how long to expect this to go on for. Last time it was 8 weeks then surgery, with no improvement in the pericarditis. I had no fluid build up however. thank you for your patience with my questions.



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Dear Helen,
I apologize for the delay, and thank you for the reminder, it should be answered,
about two days ago I think.
As for the timing of pericarditis flare-ups, it really is variable from patient to
patient.  
It is unclear what happens to "untreated" pericarditic hearts over time, however
it has been shown that the pericarditis will run its course and stop without medications
in most cases.  Unfortunately, if a lot of scar develops as result of the inflammation
(and this does not happen in all cases and is not predicable), it can put constraints
on the chamber of the heart that are very bad for the patient.  This is why it is
very important that you have careful, regualar, follow-up by a cardiologist and not just the
local doctor.  Good Luck.
I hope you find this information useful. Information provided in the heart forum is for general
purposes only. Only your physician can provide specific diagnoses and therapies. Please feel free to
write back with additional questions. Good luck.
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call
1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at
www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that
can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.