UMEM Educational Pearls

Category: Cardiology

Title: pericarditis in immigrants

Keywords: pericarditis, immigrants, etiology, cause (PubMed Search)

Posted: 4/11/2010 by Amal Mattu, MD (Updated: 10/9/2024)
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Though most causes of acute pericarditis in patients from developed countries are viral or idiopathic, the etiology of pericarditis in patients visiting from developing countries is usually TB, and the TB accounts for > 90% of cases of pericarditis in patients with HIV infection. This group of patients, therefore, should almost always be admitted for a full workup of the cause and for appropriate treatment.