A review of pericarditis. 1. Causes, manifestations, and diagnostic techniques.

Pericardial disease has many causes, clinical manifestations, and complications. Pericarditis, the most common disease of the pericardium, is classified as acute, subacute, or chronic. Acute pericarditis is characterized by chest pain, dyspnea, and presence of a pericardial friction rub. Patients with chronic pericarditis are generally asymptomatic. Laboratory techniques such as electrocardiography, echocardiography, angiography, radionuclide ventriculography, and computed tomography are useful as primary or adjunctive diagnostic procedures.