Treatment with aspirin, NSAID, corticosteroids, and colchicine in acute and recurrent pericarditis

Massimo Imazio*, Yehuda Adler

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Empiric anti-inflammatory therapy for acute and recurrent pericarditis is warranted for viral and idiopathic cases that represent most cases of pericarditis in developed countries. For specific uncomplicated etiologies, such as systemic autoimmune diseases and postpericardiotomy syndromes, the same drugs are also indicated. Aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) are mainstay of therapy with the possible adjunct of colchicine, especially for recurrences. Corticosteroids are a second choice for difficult cases requiring multi-drug therapies and specific medical conditions (i.e., specific cases with systemic autoimmune diseases, postpericardiotomy syndrome, and pregnancy). Medical therapy of pericarditis should be individualized as much as possible providing the attack dose every 8 h to ensure full daily control of symptoms and till remission and C-reactive protein normalization, and then tapering should be considered. The present paper will review current evidence for the treatment of acute and recurrent pericarditis with aspirin, NSAID, corticosteroids, and colchicine.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)355-360
Number of pages6
JournalHeart Failure Reviews
Volume18
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2013

Keywords

  • Aspirin
  • Colchicine
  • Corticosteroids
  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
  • Pericarditis
  • Therapy

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