pericarditis
(noun)
Inflammation of the pericardium, the membrane that surrounds the heart.
Examples of pericarditis in the following topics:
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Pericarditis
- The causes of pericarditis are varied, including viral infections of the pericardium, idiopathic causes, uremic pericarditis, bacterial infections of the pericardium (e.g., Mycobacterium tuberculosis), post-infarct pericarditis (pericarditis due to heart attack), or Dressler's pericarditis.
- Pericarditis may be caused by viral, bacterial, or fungal infection.
- Pneumococcus or tuberculous pericarditis are the most common bacterial forms.
- The most common worldwide cause of pericarditis is infectious pericarditis with Tuberculosis.
- Chronic pericarditis however is less common, a form of which is constrictive pericarditis.
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Pericardium
- Pericarditis is the term for inflammation in the pericardium, typically due to infection.
- Pericarditis is often a severe disease because it can constrict and apply pressure on the heart and work against its normal function.
- Pericarditis comes in many types depending on which tissue layer is infected.
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Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
- A person with SLE may have inflammation of various parts of the heart, such as pericarditis, myocarditis, and endocarditis.