PericarditisSymptoms, Doctors, Treatments, Advances & More
Learn About Pericarditis
Pericarditis is a condition in which the sac-like covering around the heart (pericardium) becomes inflamed.
The cause of pericarditis is unknown or unproven in many cases. It mostly affects men ages 20 to 50 years.
Pericarditis is often the result of an infection such as:
- Viral infections that cause a chest cold or pneumonia
- Infections with bacteria (less common)
- Some fungal infections (rare)
The condition may be seen with diseases such as:
- Autoimmune diseases (diseases in which the immune system attacks healthy body tissue by mistake)
- Cancer (including leukemia)
- HIV infection and AIDS
- Underactive thyroid gland
- Kidney failure
- Rheumatic fever
- Tuberculosis (TB)
Other causes include:
- Heart attack
- Heart surgery or trauma to the chest, esophagus, or heart
- Certain medicines, such as procainamide, hydralazine, phenytoin, isoniazid, and some medicines used to treat cancer or suppress the immune system
- Swelling or inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis)
- Radiation therapy to the chest
Chest pain is almost always present. The pain:
- May be felt in the neck, shoulder, back, or abdomen
- Often increases with deep breathing and lying flat, and may increase with coughing and swallowing
- Can feel sharp and stabbing
- Is often relieved by sitting up and leaning or bending forward
You may have fever, chills, or sweating if the condition is caused by an infection.
Other symptoms may include:
- Ankle, feet, and leg swelling
- Anxiety
- Breathing difficulty when lying down
- Dry cough
- Fatigue
The cause of pericarditis should be identified, if possible.
High doses of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen or indomethacin are often given with a medicine called colchicine. These medicines will decrease your pain and reduce the swelling or inflammation in the pericardium. You will be asked to take them for days to weeks or longer in some cases.
If the cause of pericarditis is an infection:
- Antibiotics will be used for bacterial infections
- Antifungal medicines will be used for fungal pericarditis
Other medicines that may be used are:
- Corticosteroids such as prednisone (in some people)
- "Water pills" (diuretics) to remove excess fluid
- Other anti-inflammatory medicines
If the buildup of fluid makes the heart function poorly, treatment may include:
- Draining the fluid from the sac. This procedure, called pericardiocentesis, is done using a needle, which is guided by ultrasound (echocardiography) in most cases.
- Cutting a small hole (window) in the pericardium (subxiphoid pericardiotomy) to allow the infected fluid to drain into the abdominal cavity. This is done by a surgeon.
Surgery called pericardiectomy may be needed if the pericarditis is long-lasting, comes back after treatment, or causes scarring or tightening of the tissue around the heart. The operation involves cutting or removing part of the pericardium.
Cleveland Clinic Main Campus
Allan Klein is a Cardiologist practicing medicine in Cleveland, Ohio. He has been practicing medicine for over 49 years. Dr. Klein is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Pericarditis. He is also highly rated in 45 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Constrictive Pericarditis, Pericarditis, Cardiac Tamponade, Heart Failure, and Cardiac Ablation. Dr. Klein is board certified in American Board Of Internal Medicine, 1987.
Paul Cremer is a Cardiologist practicing medicine in Chicago, Illinois. He has been practicing medicine for over 19 years. Dr. Cremer is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Pericarditis. He is also highly rated in 38 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Pericarditis, Constrictive Pericarditis, Sarcoidosis, Aortic Valve Replacement, and Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR). Dr. Cremer is board certified in American Board Of Internal Medicine - Cardiovascular Disease (Certified).
UVA Health Fontaine Research Park Building 500
Antonio Abbate is a Cardiologist practicing medicine in Charlottesville,, Virginia. Dr. Abbate is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Pericarditis. He is also highly rated in 22 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Pericarditis, Heart Failure, Heart Attack, Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI), and Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR).
Pericarditis can range from mild illness that gets better on its own, to a life-threatening condition. Fluid buildup around the heart and poor heart function can complicate the disorder.
The outcome is good if pericarditis is treated right away. Most people recover in 2 weeks to 3 months. However, pericarditis may come back. This is called recurrent, or chronic, if symptoms or episodes continue.
Scarring and thickening of the sac-like covering and the heart muscle may occur when the problem is severe. This is called constrictive pericarditis. It can cause long-term problems similar to those of heart failure.
Contact your provider if you have symptoms of pericarditis. This disorder is not life threatening most of the time. However, it can be very dangerous if not treated.
Many cases cannot be prevented.
Summary: This study is being done to demonstrate whether KPL-387 is an effective and safe treatment for recurrent pericarditis.
Summary: CACP syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by the triad of camptodactyly, non-inflammatory arthropathy with synovial hyperplasia, and coxa vara. Occasionally, non-inflammatory pericarditis and pleural effusion may also occur. This syndrome is likely underdiagnosed due to its rarity. Epidemiological information is limited to isolated case reports or small patient series, wit...
Published Date: January 27, 2026
Published By: Thomas S. Metkus MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine and Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Chabrando JG, Bonaventura A, Vecchie A, et al. Management of acute and recurrent pericarditis: JACC state-of-the-art review. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2020;75(1):76-92. PMID: 31918837 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31918837/.
Hoit BD, Oh JK. Pericardial diseases. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 62.
Klein AL, Wang TKM, Lewinter MM, Cremer PC. Pericardial diseases. In: Bonow RO, Mann DL, Tomaselli GF, et al, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 13th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2026:chap 78.
Knowlton KU, Anderson JL, Savoia MC, Oxman MN. Myocarditis and pericarditis. In: Blaser MJ, Cohen JI, Holland SM, et al, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2026:chap 86.