Constrictive Pericarditis - Causes

Causes

Almost half the cases of constrictive pericarditis in the developing world are idiopathic in origin. In regions where tuberculosis is common, it is the cause in a large portion of cases.

Causes of constrictive pericarditis include:

• Infectious:
  • Tuberculosis
  • Incomplete drainage of purulent pericarditis
  • Fungal and parasitic infections
• Inflammatory and autoimmune
  • Chronic pericarditis
  • Postviral pericarditis
  • Postsurgical
  • Following pericarditis associated with acute myocardial infarction
  • Following post-myocardial infarction (Dressler's) syndrome
  • In association with pulmonary asbestosis
• Prior mediastinal radiation therapy
• Chronic renal failure
• Connective tissue disorders
• Neoplastic pericardial infiltration