Treatment for acute, chronic and other types of pericarditis

Pericarditis is the inflammation of the membrane lining the heart, the pericardium, resulting in a lot of chest pain, mainly. This inflammation can have several causes and is most often the result of infections.

Because of the various causes and types of pericarditis, treatment should be done on a case-by-case basis and is usually performed at home with rest and use of painkillers as indicated by the physician. Understand pericarditis and how to identify it.

The treatment of pericarditis depends on its cause, evolution of the disease and complications that may arise. Thus, the treatment that can be established by the cardiologist is usually:

1. Acute pericarditis caused by viruses or no known cause

This type of pericarditis is characterized by inflammation of the pericardium, which is the tissue surrounding the heart, due to virus infection or some other condition that could not be identified.

Thus, the treatment established by the cardiologist aims to alleviate the symptoms, being recommended:

• Analgesics, which are indicated to soothe those in the body;
• Antipyretics, which aim to reduce fever;
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which should be taken as directed by your doctor, with high doses usually given for two weeks;
• Remedies for gastric protection, in case the patient presents stomach pains or ulcers;
• Colchicine, which should be added to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and maintained for one year as prevention of recurrence of the disease. Learn more about colchicine.

Also, it is extremely important that the patient is at rest until symptoms disappear and inflammation is controlled or disappears.

2. Pericarditis caused by bacteria

In this case, the inflammation of the tissue surrounding the heart is caused by bacteria and therefore the treatment is mainly done with the use of antibiotics with the aim of eliminating the bacteria.

In addition to the use of antibiotics, the cardiologist may indicate the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and, in more severe cases, hospital admission, pericardial drainage, or surgical removal.

3. Chronic Pericarditis

Chronic pericarditis is caused by slow, gradual inflammation of the pericardium, and symptoms are often missed. Learn more about chronic pericarditis.

Treatment for this type of pericarditis is usually done with the goal of relieving symptoms such as the use of medication diuretics that help in eliminating excess fluids. In addition, depending on the cause and progression of the disease, the physician may be advised to use immunosuppressive drugs or surgery to remove the pericardium.

4. Pericarditis secondary to other diseases

When pericarditis occurs due to some disease, treatment is done according to its cause and is usually recommended by the doctor:

• Non-hormonal anti-inflammatory (NSAID), such as Ibuprofen;
• Colchicine, which may be taken alone or in combination with NSAID, depending on the medical recommendation. It can be used in initial treatment or recurrence crises;
• Corticoids, which are usually indicated in cases of connective tissue diseases, uremic pericarditis, and in cases that did not respond to Colchicine or NSAIDs.

5. Pericarditis with effusion

This type of pericarditis is characterized by the slow accumulation of fluid in the pericardium and, therefore, the treatment is done by means of pericardial puncture to extract the accumulated liquid, diminishing the inflammatory signs.

6. Constrictive pericarditis

In this type of pericarditis there is the development of a tissue similar to a scar in the pericardium, which can result, in addition to inflammation, in obstruction and calcifications, interfering in the normal functioning of the heart.

Treatment for this type of pericarditis is done with:

• Anti tuberculosis remedies, which must be started before surgery and maintained for 1 year;
• Medications that improve heart function;
• Diuretic medications;
• Surgery to remove the pericardium.

It is important to note that surgery, especially in cases of pericarditis associated with other heart diseases, should not be delayed, since patients with great limitations in the function of the heart may be at greater risk of death and the benefit of surgery is lower.