Recurrent Pericarditis for Professionals
Pericarditis is inflammation of the fibroelastic pericardial sac. Acute pericarditis has been observed in ≈0.1% of hospitalized patients and 5% of patients admitted to the emergency department with a diagnosis of noncardiac chest pain.
Recurrent pericarditis is a common complication after an initial episode of acute pericarditis, characterized by the recurrence of chest pain and signs of cardiovascular inflammation. Recurrent pericarditis presents major short-term and long-term challenges for clinicians and patients alike. For many individuals, the first acute episode of pericarditis is just the beginning, with up to 30% of these patients experiencing a first recurrence within 18 months. Data suggests there are approximately 40,000 recurrent pericarditis patients in the United States (US) seeking and receiving medical treatment. The impact of recurrent pericarditis often extends beyond cardiac effects, with general uncertainty of each recurrence triggering anxiety, depression, and disruption in overall quality of life.
Webinars
Acute Pericarditis: Recognition, Initial Management, and Preventing Recurrence
Acute pericarditis is a common and important clinical problem responsible for ~5% of patients attending the emergency department with chest pain. For most patients, the condition is self-limiting and resolves with the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and colchicine. However, about a third of patients can develop recurrent disease which can cause significant morbidity and can be challenging to manage. The risk of this occurring can be reduced by timely diagnosis and appropriate initial medical therapy. This webinar will review the initial diagnosis and clinical evaluation of pericarditis. It will also address risk stratification and outline therapeutic approaches to initial management and preventing recurrence, and the related practical pharmacology.
Podcasts
Beyond Acute – Recurrent Pericarditis
Presenters: Katherine E. Di Palo, PharmD, FAHA, FHFSA, BCACP, BCGP; Farshad Forouzandeh, MD, PhD, FACC, FSCAI; David Lin, MD
In this podcast, Drs. Forouzandeh and Lin and Katherine Di Palo discuss initial management of recurrent pericarditis. Learn how to distinguish acute pericarditis from recurrent pericarditis. They will also explore diagnostic criteria and initial pharmacotherapy for recurrent pericarditis. Listen now to get more insight on care delivery strategies to improve patient outcomes and decrease associated health care costs due to recurrent pericarditis.

Clinical Program Manager
Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program
Montefiore Medical Center

Associate Professor of Medicine-Cardiology,
Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) School of Medicine
Interventional Cardiologist,
Harrington Heart and Vascular Institute (HHVI),
University Hospitals (UH)

Senior Consulting Cardiologist
Minneapolis Heart Institute
Treatment of Acute Pericarditis
Presenters: Tevfik F Ismail, MB, BS, PhD, FRCP, FACC, FAHA; Antonio Brucato, MD; Robert Barcelona, Pharm.D., BCPS
In this podcast, Drs. Tevfik Ismail, Antonio Brucato, and Robert Barcelona will focus on the treatment of acute pericarditis and review the relevant clinical pharmacology of the agents used. Learn more on the use of drugs that are off-label for acute pericarditis in the United States and other jurisdictions and some practical tips and tricks and pointers towards pitfalls to avoid when managing this condition.

Consultant Cardiologist (Cardio-rheumatology, Heart Failure, Inherited Cardiac Conditions, CMR) – Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust
Clinical Senior Lecturer – King’s College, London
Director of Internal Medicine
Professor on Internal Medicine
University of Milano at the Fatebenefratelli Hospital
Milan, Italy

Clinical Pharmacist Specialist, Cardiac Intensive Care Unit
PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency Program Director
Department of Pharmacy
University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center
Complications of Acute Pericarditis
Presenters: Christine L. Jellis, MD PhD FACC FASE; Tim Simpson, MD, Pharm D, and Sadeer Al-Kindi, MD, FACC.
Summary: Learn more in this podcast on the causes, complications and treatments of acute pericarditis and explore how to prevent an initial episode of acute pericarditis from evolving into recurrent pericarditis.

Vice Chair, Heart Vascular & Thoracic Institute
Co-Director Pericardial Center
Staff Cardiologist - Cardiovascular Imaging, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine
Associate Professor of Medicine - CCLCM, Case Western Reserve University

Senior Cardiology Fellow
Oregon Health & Science University

Assistant Professor of Medicine and Radiology
Wolfe Family Scholar
Co-Director, Center for Integrated and Novel Approaches in Vascular-Metabolic Disease (CINEMA)
Director, Cardiovascular Phenomics Core
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
What is Acute Pericarditis: Signs and Signals
Presenters: S. Allen Luis, MD, PhD, FRACP, FACC, FASE; James Lloyd, MD; Janet A. Kloos, RN, PhD, APRN-CCNS, CCRN
Summary: Pericarditis is inflammation of the fibroelastic pericardial sac. Acute pericarditis has been observed in ≈0.1% of hospitalized patients and 5% of patients admitted to the emergency department with a diagnosis of noncardiac chest pain. In this podcast, learn the clinical features of Acute Pericarditis.

S. Allen Luis, MD, PhD, FRACP, FACC, FASE
Associate Dean – Student and Faculty Affairs, Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences
Medical Director, Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences Echocardiography Program
Medical Director, Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences Advanced Cardiovascular Sonography Program
Co-Director, Pericardial Diseases Clinic
Associate Professor of Medicine, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine
James Lloyd, MD
Fellow in the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine
Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN

Janet A. Kloos, RN, PhD, APRN-CCNS, CCRN
Clinical Nurse Specialist, Cardiology
University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center
Guidelines and Articles
- 2014 AHA/ACC Guideline for the Management of Patients With Non-ST-Elevation Acute Coronary Syndromes (PDF)
- Cardiovascular Disease and Breast Cancer: Where These Entities Intersect: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2018;137:e30–e66.
- ACC/AHA/ESC 2006 Guidelines for the Management of Patients with Atrial Fibrillation - Full Text. Circulation. 2006;114:e257–e354.