what are common treatments

a very dear friend has just been diagnosed w/pericarditis.  he is 32 hispanic male.  so far he is on antibotics, steriods, anti inflamitory, and diuretic.  is this life threatening?  what are other procedures out there, other than medication?

[maggiemag]

Do they know why he has this?  I think he is on all the right meds and should be fine.  If the fluid would be a very large amount and would be hindering the normal contraction of the heart, then they would do a pericardiocentesis to drain off the fluid.  This can have a dramatic effect but sometimes needs to be repeated.  This severe kind would be more common after heart surgery like a bypass.