Geri G, Cacoub P
Service de médecine interne II, hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, AP-HP, Paris cedex 13, France.
Rev Med Interne. 2011 Dec;32(12):736-41. doi: 10.1016/j.revmed.2011.02.018. Epub 2011 Mar 25.
Recurrent pericarditis are common and their management remains a matter of debate. Their precise pathophysiology is unclear, and both innate and adaptative immunity seem involved. An extensive work-up seeking for etiology seems to be unnecessary during the first episode of acute pericarditis, whereas it is mandatory in recurrent pericarditis. Despite extensive investigations, up to 80 % of recurrent pericarditis remains of unknown origin. Colchicin associated to non steroidal antiinflammatory drugs is the first line treatment whereas immunosuppressive drugs are exceptionally required.
