Constrictive pericarditis is a disorder caused by inflammation of
the pericardium, the sac-like covering of the heart. Eventual
thickening, scarring and contracture of the pericardium occurs
causing it to be less elastic. This prevents the pericardium from
stretching and results in reduced filling of the chambers of the
heart. This reduces the amount of blood pumped by the heart and
causes blood to back up behind the heart, resulting in symptoms of
heart failure. Constrictive pericarditis may be life threatening if
untreated.
Review Date: 06/01/2010
Reviewed By: Issam Mikati, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Feinberg School
of Medicine, Director, Northwestern Clinic Echocardiography Lab,
Northwestern University, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed
Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical
Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
