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. 2010 Dec 26;2(12):403-7.
doi: 10.4330/wjc.v2.i12.403.

Acute and recurring pericarditis: More colchicine, less corticosteroids

Paul Farand  1 , Francis Bonenfant, Emilie P Belley-Côté, Nicholas Tzouannis
Affiliations

Acute and recurring pericarditis: More colchicine, less corticosteroids

Paul Farand et al. World J Cardiol. .

Abstract

Acute and recurring pericarditis are frequently encountered clinical entities. Given that severe complications such as tamponade and constrictive pericarditis occur rarely, the majority of patients suffering from acute pericarditis will have a benign clinical course. However, pericarditis recurrence, with its painful symptoms, is frequent. In effect, recent studies have demonstrated a beneficial role of colchicine in preventing recurrence, while also suggesting an increase in recurrences with the use of corticosteroids, the traditional first-line agent.

Keywords: Colchicine; Corticosteroids; Pericarditis; Pericardium; Recurring pericarditis.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Transthoracic echocardiography. A: Parasternal long axis view showing a moderate pericardial effusion without compression of the cardiac cavities; B: Subcostal view showing a mild pericardial effusion without compression of the cardiac cavities.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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