Idiopathic Recurrent Pericarditis

Abstract

Idiopathic recurrent pericarditis occurs in 20 to 50% of patients after the first episode of acute pericarditis. Etiology and pathogenesis are controversial; however, nowadays it is known more about autoimmune and inflammatory processes that could be the cause, giving us new guidelines and treatment options. The approach corresponds to acute pericarditis; however, the definitive diagnosis is made by exclusion of all known causes and is usually done retrospectively. First line of treatment are the non steroidal analgesics with aspirin and colchicine, leaving as second line steroids for highly selected cases and as a new option the receptor antagonists of IL-1 (anakinra) as a specific treatment.