ACUTE BENIGN PERICARDITIS IN CHILDHOOD: COMPARISONS WITH RHEUMATIC PERICARDITIS, AND THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS OF ACTH AND CORTISONE

Abstract

Six cases of acute benign pericarditis in childhood have been studied. The importance in childhood of the differentiation of acute benign pericarditis from acute rheumatic pericarditis has been emphasized and demonstrated by a comparison of the clinical findings and subsequent courses in patients with these two types of pericardial involvement. The results of treatment of acute primary pericarditis with the hormones ACTH and cortisone are presented and discussed. Some negative findings in the study of the etiology of this disease are presented.