Constrictive Pericarditis in Association with Ischaemic Heart Disease

Abstract

Constrictive pericarditis (CP), a not so common condition, has symptoms and signs of heart failure and abnormal echocardiographic findings, such as jerky septal motion. These findings can be mistaken for ischemic heart disease (IHD) if the echocardiographer is inexperienced. Although the etiology of CP can be varied such as idiopathic, postviral, tuberculous, postsurgical, and radiation-induced the final common pathway is the development of fibrous thickening or calcification of the visceral pericardium resulting in pericardial noncompliance, and ultimately requiring surgical intervention. As CP is potentially reversible and surgically curable condition, with improvement in symptoms and quality of life, the diagnosis should not be missed. Here, we present a case in which the diagnosis of CP was made, and subsequently found to have IHD also.