Normal volume of pericardial fluid - 50ml

Aetiology

• Usually idiopathic
• viral infections (Coxsackie)
• tuberculosis
• uraemia (causes 'fibrinous' pericarditis)
• trauma
• post-myocardial infarction, Dressler's syndrome
• autoimmune diseases - RA, SLE, scleroderma
• hypothyroidism
• malignancy

PC

• chest pain: may be pleuritic.
  • worse on heavy breathing
  • Is often relieved by sitting forwards
• other symptoms include non-productive cough, dyspnoea and flu-like symptoms

Examination

• pericardial rub (a friction rub caused by pericardial layers rubbing on each other)
• tachypnoea
• tachycardia