PERICARDITIS
Pericarditis refers to an inflammation and irritation of the pericardium, the fibroserous sac that envelops, supports, and protects the heart. Etiology Idiopathic or nonspecific causes Infection: usually viral - coxsackie virus, influenza, HIV rarely bacterial - streptococci, staphylococci, meningococci, gonococci, gram-negative rods Mycotic (fungal) Disorders of connective tissue - systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatic fever, rheumatoid arthritis, polyarteritis, scleroderma Hypersensitivity states: immune reactions, medication reactions, serum sickness Etiology Disorders of adjacent structures: myocardial infarction, Post MI (Dressler's syndrome), dissecting aneurysm, pleural and pulmonary disease (pneumonia) Neoplastic disease: caused by metastasis from lung cancer or breast cancer, leukemia, and primary (mesothelioma) neoplasms Radiation therapy of chest and upper torso (peak occurrence 5–9 months after treatment) Trauma: chest ...