Monitoring
Imaging with echocardiography or chest computed tomography (CT) can help diagnose complications such as constrictive pericarditis or pericardial effusion. Echocardiography is also indicated when cardiac tamponade or acute coronary syndromes are suspected.
Patients who do not have high-risk features (i.e., high fever; subacute course; evidence of a large pericardial effusion; cardiac tamponade; failure to respond within 7 days to a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug; myopericarditis; immunosuppression; trauma; oral anticoagulant therapy) can be managed as outpatients with empirical anti-inflammatories and evaluated in the clinic after 1 week to assess the response to treatment.[1]
Generally, long-term surveillance is not necessary in patients with acute viral or idiopathic pericarditis. Repeat imaging (echo, CT, or magnetic resonance imaging) may be required in patients who have associated pericardial effusions or suspicion of constrictive pericarditis.[12][39]
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