Uremic pericarditis overview


 * Associate Editor-In-Chief: Varun Kumar, M.B.B.S.

Overview
Renal failure can be associated with the development of a pericardial effusion and pericarditis, a condition known as uremic pericarditis. The underlying pathophysiology is not entirely clear, but it is hypothesized that uremic pericarditis is due to a build up of metabolic toxins such as urea, creatinine, methylguanidine which cause inflammation of pericardium. With the introduction of dialysis, the incidence of uremic pericarditis has dropped. Uremic pericaritis can be further divided as:
 * 1) Uremic pericarditis in patients not undergoing dialysis.
 * 2) Uremic pericarditis in patients on maintenance dialysis.