Treatment

  I have been dealing with pericarditis for the last year. It started with a virus, which caused asthma-like breathing problems, that hid it for a short time. I began treatment with Naproxin (50mg)twice-a-day, but each time I stop, it returns. October & November of 1998 was the only time when it seemed to be cured, but it started again in December and has progressively gotten worse, until I had severe, shart pain this week.  I was checked for an embolisym and put on Methylprdnisolone.  Is this the best course or are there other options?  The cardiologist has lost interest in me and seems unwilling to answer my questions.  I would appreciate any suggestions or new treatments available.

[Cleveland Clinic, MD]

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Dear Angela,
Chronic pericarditis can be a difficult condition to treat and may require life-long anti-inflammatory drugs such as naproxin or aspirin.  Have you had an echocardiogram done to exclude other possibilities?
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.
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.