Preface

Pericarditis, the commonest form of pericardial disease with known infectious or noninfectious causes, and an idiopathic etiology, is on the rise across the world. Although the approaches to diagnosis and management of acute and chronic pericarditis are well established and reported in international clinical guidelines, there is a large number of unresolved issues in these fields. For instance, clinical criteria, including signs and symptoms, the presence of specific physical findings such as pericardial rub, electrocardiographic changes and echocardiographic evidence for hemodynamic modality and pericardial effusion or constriction, do not specifically correspond to the etiology and natural evolution of the disease. Yet, the etiology of some idiopathic cases may be defined as viral, including COVID-19, and may also be associated with long Covid, tuberculosis, neoplasm, systemic vasculitis and connective tissue diseases. In fact, variable diagnostic tests seem to be highly specific and sensitive if no specific etiologies are suspected in connection with the epidemiological background, patient history and clinical presentation. This book presents a summary of conventional diagnostic and treatment approaches in acute, chronic and recurrent pericarditis, with a particular focus on clinical practice utilization.

**Alexander E. Berezin**

Professor of Medicine and Senior Consultant, Internal Medicine Department, Zaporozhye State Medical University, Zaporozhye, Ukraine

**1**

Section 1

Etiologic Diagnosis and

Practical Aspects of the

Management of Acute

Pericarditis
