Subacute rupture of the left ventricular free wall is a complication that occurs during the acute phase of a myocardial infarction. The subacute presentation makes surgical management possible. However, it is not known whether either pericardial manipulation or the use of pericardial patches influences left ventricular function over the medium term. Our aim was to monitor changes in left ventri...

The hemodynamic findings in five patients are presented in order to demonstrate the variability in the clinical and physiologic patterns that may be encountered in restrictive disease of the pericardium. The mechanical effects of pericardial encasement previously described were confirmed. Furthermore, it was found that myocardial insufficiency and hypervolemia were not only important causative ...

The most common cause of calcific pericarditis is idiopathic. We report a case of a 24 year-old woman with Silver-Russell syndrome, history of Wilms' tumour in childhood, constrictive pericarditis and primary hyperparathyroidism. We analyse pathologic mechanisms of disseminated calcification and possible genetic factors that may contribute to aetiology and clinical presentation of calcific peri...

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES Some reports have described a change in the etiologic spectrum of constrictive pericarditis. In addition, data on the relationship between its clinical presentation and etiology are lacking. We sought to describe the etiologies of the disease, their relationship with its clinical presentation and surgical findings, and to identify predictors of poor outcome. METHOD...

In this case report we share a case of infective Pericarditis caused by Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) in an immune-competent, nonsurgical patient. This case and review will illustrate the importance of considering P. acnes as a cause of idiopathic pericardial effusion and effusive constrictive disease. The patient was a 61-year-old male with history of osteoarthritis of the knee. He receiv...

BACKGROUND Pericardial constriction is a serious complication of tuberculous pericardial effusion that occurs in up to a quarter of patients despite anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy. The impact of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection on the incidence of constrictive pericarditis following tuberculous pericardial effusion is unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS We conducted a prospective observa...