Pericarditis is a disorder caused by inflammation of the
pericardium, the sac-like covering of the heart. Pericarditis can
be caused by bacterial, fungal, or viral infections. It may also
result from vascular inflammation (vasculitis), kidney or thyroid
diseases, tumors, and injury or trauma to the chest, esophagus, or
heart. In many cases, the cause is unknown. Pain occurs as a result
of the layers of the inflamed pericardium rubbing against each
other.
Review Date: 12/23/2010
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine,
Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
