[Acute pericarditis: clinical and etiological aspects-about 35 cases]

ABSTRACT

This study is a retrospective one learning over 35 cases of a acute pericarditis accepted in the service of cardiology "B" of the CHU Ibn Sina in Rabat during a period spreaded between January 2002 to December 2003. The echocardiography has found a medium diameter of effusion of 30 +/- 13 mm with pre-tamponnad signs in 31% of cases. The tubercular etiology was the first cause of acute pericarditis, followed by the viral causes, after we find the idiopathic case. The tumoral etiology was found in three cases and in one of them a purulent pericarditis. The tuberculosis was suspected by strong arguments but the histological confirmation was only done on two patients. The treatment was abrove all etiologic, mean while the evacuation of the effusion was indicated like an urgence in the case of bad hemodynamical tolerance. The corticotherapy has been systematically associated to the antibacillary treatment even if its part is 'controversial. The evolution in the short run was positive in 71% of cases. Four deaths have been recorded. The evolution in the long term wasn't studied. The acute pericarditis is characterized by its non specific clinical aspect but by varied etiological profile turned up of infections tumoral metabolical causes, general or idiopathic, but in our context the tubercular cause remains the most frequent