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2 - Myocarditis and Pericarditis

from Part I - Systems

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 December 2009

By
Jorge A. Fernandez  and
Stuart P. Swadron
Edited by
Rachel L. Chin
Jorge A. Fernandez
Affiliation:
Assistant Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California; Director of Medical Student Education, Department of Emergency Medicine, Los Angeles County–USC Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
Stuart P. Swadron
Affiliation:
Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California; Residency Program Director, Los Angeles County–USC Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
Rachel L. Chin
Affiliation:
University of California, San Francisco
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Summary

INTRODUCTION

Cardiac infections are classified by the affected site: endocardium, myocardium, or pericardium. As the pathophysiology, clinical presentation, differential diagnosis, and treatment of myocarditis and pericarditis overlap significantly, these will be discussed together.

EPIDEMIOLOGY AND PATHOPHYSIOLOGY

Myocarditis is an inflammation of the myocardium; the term myopericarditis describes the frequent additional involvement of the pericardium. Pericarditis involves only the pericardium. Isolated myocarditis is often relatively asymptomatic and therefore frequently misdiagnosed. Thus, the true incidence is unknown, although autopsy studies have demonstrated occult myocarditis in up to 1% of the general population. For unclear reasons, young men more frequently develop myocarditis as well as pericarditis.

The pericardium provides a protective barrier and is composed of two layers: visceral and parietal. The visceral layer is firmly attached to the epicardium, whereas the parietal layer moves freely within the mediastinum. Approximately 20 mL of fluid is normally present within the pericardial sac. Fluid accumulation within the pericardial sac may result in cardiac tamponade if the pericardium does not have sufficient time to stretch, as compliance increases slowly over time. Thus, the rate rather than the absolute amount of fluid accumulation in the pericardial sac is the most important determinant of tamponade physiology.

Cardiac infections may spread directly from one intracardiac region to another (from endocardium toward pericardium or vice versa). Alternatively, pleural or mediastinal infections can extend into the pericardium and cause cardiac infections.

Type
Chapter
Information
Emergency Management of Infectious Diseases , pp. 9 - 14
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2008

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References

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  • Myocarditis and Pericarditis
    • By Jorge A. Fernandez, Assistant Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California; Director of Medical Student Education, Department of Emergency Medicine, Los Angeles County–USC Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, Stuart P. Swadron, Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California; Residency Program Director, Los Angeles County–USC Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
  • Edited by Rachel L. Chin, University of California, San Francisco
  • Book: Emergency Management of Infectious Diseases
  • Online publication: 15 December 2009
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511547454.003
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  • Myocarditis and Pericarditis
    • By Jorge A. Fernandez, Assistant Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California; Director of Medical Student Education, Department of Emergency Medicine, Los Angeles County–USC Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, Stuart P. Swadron, Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California; Residency Program Director, Los Angeles County–USC Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
  • Edited by Rachel L. Chin, University of California, San Francisco
  • Book: Emergency Management of Infectious Diseases
  • Online publication: 15 December 2009
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511547454.003
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Myocarditis and Pericarditis
    • By Jorge A. Fernandez, Assistant Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California; Director of Medical Student Education, Department of Emergency Medicine, Los Angeles County–USC Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, Stuart P. Swadron, Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California; Residency Program Director, Los Angeles County–USC Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
  • Edited by Rachel L. Chin, University of California, San Francisco
  • Book: Emergency Management of Infectious Diseases
  • Online publication: 15 December 2009
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511547454.003
Available formats
×