Constrictive pericarditis in a contemporary Danish cohort: aetiology and outcome

OBJECTIVES: The aetiology and outcome of constrictive pericarditis vary between geographic regions and has changed over time. We describe the diagnostic work-up and outcome in a contemporary cohort of Danish patients with constrictive pericarditis.

DESIGN: Hospital databases were searched for patients undergoing cardiac catheterisation for suspected constrictive pericarditis or for patients undergoing pericardiectomy or discharged with the diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis.

RESULTS: We identified 57 patients with constrictive pericarditis diagnosed from 1998 to 2012. Previous surgery and inflammatory disease were the most prevalent underlying conditions. Diagnosis was made primarily by echocardiography and right- and left-sided cardiac catheterisation. Echocardiography was particularly notable for dilated inferior caval vein, increased E/A ratio, and high septal tissue velocity in addition to the presence of septal bounce. Pericardiectomy was performed in 47 patients with a 30-day mortality of 8.5%. Clinical improvement was noted in 69% of cases. Several echocardiographic parameters normalised with time, including markers of diastolic function.

CONCLUSIONS: Long-term outcome after pericardiectomy is acceptable with clinical improvement and partial resolution of the echocardiographic parameters in the majority of patients.