Severe Calcific Chronic Constrictive Pericarditis as an Unexpected Cause of Death: An Autopsy Case

The Clinical Efficacy of Cedilanid and Isosorbide Dinitrate plus Pericardial Dissection for Chronic Constrictive Pericarditis in the Elderly and Its Influence on Plasma Endothelin, Atrial Natriuretic Peptide, and Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index

Objective

To investigate the clinical efficacy of cedilanid and isosorbide dinitrate plus pericardial dissection for chronic constrictive pericarditis in the elderly.

Methods

Ninety elderly patients with chronic constrictive pericarditis admitted to our hospital from March 2018 to October 2020 were recruited and assigned to receive either cedilanid and isosorbide dinitrate (control group A), pericardial dissection (control group B), or cedilanid and isosorbide dinitrate plus pericardial dissection (combination group) via random number table method, with 30 patients in each group. Outcome measures included plasma endothelin, atrial natriuretic peptide, system immune-inflammation indices, treatment effect, quality of life, mental state, and treatment satisfaction.

Results

The combination group had significantly higher treatment satisfaction and treatment efficacy than control groups A and B (P > 0.05). The combination group showed the lowest levels of atrial natriuretic peptide and endothelin, followed by control group A, and group B (P < 0.001). The combined therapy resulted in significantly lower levels of system immunity index, lower Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD) scores, and better General Quality of Life Inventory-74 (GQOLI-74) scores than those of the control group B, followed by group A (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Cedilanid and isosorbide dinitrate plus pericardial dissection for elderly patients with chronic constrictive pericarditis enhances the level of plasma endothelin, atrial natriuretic peptide, and systemic immune-inflammation indexes of patients and improves their quality of life, which shows great potential for clinical promotion.

Idiopathic Pericardial Ossification Causing Chronic Constrictive Pericarditis

BACKGROUND

Chronic constrictive pericarditis (CCP) is usually caused by the fibroinflammatory reaction of the visceral and parietal pericardium that encase the heart. The cause of CCP is various including tuberculosis, trauma, prior surgery, radiation, and malignancy.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We examined the pericardiectomy specimen of a case of CCP in a 17-year-old boy.

RESULTS

The histopathology of the pericardium revealed pericardial ossification bony remodeling and hematopoiesis within the intertrabecular marrow spaces. No granulomatous or neoplastic etiology was identified.

CONCLUSION

Idiopathic pericardial ossification can cause CCP in pediatric patients.